allergies causing DES?

[yoganut]

I'm wondering if something as simple as eye allergies can cause blepharitis and dry eyes... for example allergy to pollen/mold/cat dander causes itchy eyes, you scratch the eyelid margin, which then inflames your eyelid margins and this is turn causes the tear film to be disrupted?

since I was 16 (lived in the UK then) I was ALWAYS getting conjunctivitis, my dr prescribed eye drops and I also suffered badly from seasonal hayfever, I've pretty much grown out of that and havne' suffered from sneazies for years. I'm now 41 and dry eye and itchy eyelids... could my history in my teen years be linked to what I have now?

[bassfan]

I went and got allergy tested a while back and Im allergic to pretty much everything. I dont have many physical allergy problems although some sneezing/stuffiness in spring and fall. I started allergy shots about a month ago just for the heck of it...just another something to try and fix the DES thing.

That said...I think allergies can certainly play a big role in DES. It might be worth getting tested.

bassfan

[eva b]

bassfan,

what sort of allergist did you go to? was it a general one, or someone that somehow specialised in eye related allergies?

I'm thinking there is an allergy link in my own case, but don't know where to start, and what questions to ask. My general doctor was not ver helpful when I asked him about it, and didn't really know either.

Can I also ask you what sort of shots you're getting - what are they supposed to do, how do they help?

sorry for all the questions

Eva

[bassfan]

Just a normal allergist. Im just getting your basic allergy shots...which are rather annoying. Its basically like once a week for six months, then once a month for six years...or something like that. Its an immunotherapy, gradually increasing doses build up the immune system.

Do you exibit allergy symptoms other than your eyes? The first allergist I went to before I moved to TX basically told me if all im presenting with is DES, then there isn't really anything they can do for me. I guess he didnt want my business! I went to another one and they did the full basic testing on me and of course im allergic to pretty much everything except cats and dogs.

I think that covers it, feel free to ask anything else.

bassfan

[Lucy]

Commitment, time, commitment, commitment

Hi Bass,
Good luck with the allergy shots. This is a long term commitment, as you already know. I hope you get some relief and chances are that you will.

My own experience with allergy shots (remember I'm much older than you).
I took allergy shots for about 30 years. My eyes were not yet damaged. Finally a couple of years ago, due to other health issues, I decided to just let the allergy shots go and weaned myself off. My eyes stayed the same. No worse. This is NOT meant to discourage, but just my experience over a long, long period of time. I think the shots helped me in other ways, but the eyes were not a problem when I started shots. I did stay with them for a long time as I thought they were helping.

This is worth a try for those who have not gone that route. They need to be advised this is not a quick solution, or answer. If they don't have the money, time, or commitment--they are basically wasting all of the above. An allergist would be able to do the testing though and see if they are "allergic." Personally, I believe most of us are allergic to a lot of things.
Lucy

[IanJ]

This thread is very interesting.

I'm allergic to cats, feathers, dust. I've got asthma, I get hay fever, I get sinus/nasal problems......blah blah blah.

Gonna chase up an allergist tommorow and get on the treatment.

Gotta be worth a try!

Ian.
[permanently living in hope]

[Lucy]

Ian J..........this is worth investigation. I really believe allergies are a large part of dry eyes in some instances. As I said earlier, just be prepared to follow through with treatment if they recommend, because it's not a quick yes or no. Not black or white. Why can't dry eyes be easy? Lucy

[bassfan]

I really believe allergies are a large part of dry eyes in some instances.

Dr Latkany said that a lot too...