Severe Eye Allergy?

[Trese6996]

Hi, I recently moved from south Georgia out to Shreveport, LA.  I've never had any kind of allergies other than maybe a sneeze here and there from Ragweed or whatever.  But since moving out here, I'm experiencing something terribly irritating with my eyes and a slight runny nose.  I work in a restaurant, not a very clean restaurant, mind you.  My eyes really bother me at work.  They run, get some kind of 'glaze' over them, makes it hard to work really.  On my weekends after a couple days off, my eyes clear up the second day and feel normal, I can even wear make up.  But as soon as I return to work, it's back to the irritation all week.  Although they are much worse at work, my eyes stay irritated all week.  Therefore, I believe it's something at work that I'm having a reaction to.  I discussed the air conditioning vents and the filters with a cook today.  He knows a lot about what's going on with the restaurant.  He says the vents haven't been cleaned in he don't know how long and the filters haven't been changed in over six months.  I'm the only one in the entire restaurant experiencing this issue with my eyes.  I have purchased all sorts of over the counter allergy meds, even bought some eye drops today.  The meds help my nose somewhat, but nothing is helping my eyes.  I cannot continue to work like this, I really need some answers.

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

I would not recommend over the counter allergy drops which "get the red out".  They don't last long and need to be taken 4 times a day.  OTC Zaditor is an allergy drop which may be taken twice a day.  If you wear contact lenses, instill the Zaditor 10-15 minutes before you insert the contacts in the AM, and the second dose after you remove the lenses at night.  There are eyeglasses called Panoptyx which look like regular glasses, but which form a soft seal around the lids.  They are recommended for patients with dry eyes and lid closure problems, but they might work for you since they will prevent the irritant (whatever it might be) from contacting your eyes.  At work, frequent use of refrigerated artificial tears (Refresh, Optive, Thera Tears, or Systane) will be soothing, and help to flush away any irritant or allergen from the eye surfaces.  If all else fails, you may want to consider speaking with the owner about the vents and filters.  They really should be cleaned!

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

I am glad you are better.  I understand:  I go no where without makeup!

[Trese6996]

Thank you Dr Fazio...I was told to have my MD prescribe Zaditor, but found it is not OTC and got some at WalMart.  The drops burned at first, but seem to be helping my eyes somewhat.  It's only been two days, but my eyes are still somewhat irritated, especially one...my 'bad' eye, but is much better.  I just want to feel normal again and be able to wear my make up...LOL