Stop rubbing, start reading... what to do about itchy eyes

In my previous post, I talked about some simple measures to help those itchy eyes of yours. But sometimes, it's not enough, especially if your allergies are bad or chronic.

For eyes, usually antihistamine drops applied directly to the eye work better than taking antihistamine tablets. Most of these are available over the counter at your chemist, but it can be confusing which one to choose. My experience is that different people react differently to the same agent- so often you will need to try a few before you find one which works the best for you.

The trick here is to use the antihistamine drops before the symptoms of itching start. Some of my patients will start using antihistamine drops regularly before the usual time of the year their allergy symptoms hit. The other key is to keep going with the drops throughout the entire time when your allergies are usually bad as a preventative. Of course, it can be hard to be that disciplined. One tip I often give is to leave the bottle by your bedside table as most of these antihistamine drops are meant to be used twice a day and so this can an easy visual reminder. Being proactive for allergy is better than being reactive :)

* Information on this blog is general in nature and should not be taken as professional medical advice or as a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional.