Treating Allergies w/ Dry Eye- possible solution???

[Amy09]

I saw a commercial yesterday for a new ointment that can be rubbed on the outsides of your nose and it is supposed to block allergens. I forgot what it is called though and I am having trouble finding the product on the internet. has anyone seen this commercial or know what the product is called?

the reason why I bring this up is because I was wondering if any of you thought this would be a good allergy treatment for people with dry eyes. I have bad allergies, but can't take allergy medicine because it dries out my eyes too much. Instead, I take allergy shots, but lately my allergies have been extra bad. I was wondering if this might be another possibility for treating allergies w/out irritating the eyes more than usual. let me know what y'all think!

[alisonW]

Yes...

I've seen that commercial and wondered about it as well. I can't find much information about it either though.

http://littleallergies.com/

http://www.littleremedies.com/index.html

If I find it at the drug store, I'll check out the ingredients and post them. Hth!

[teartest]

Allergies w/ dry eye

Hi Amy,

Yes, allergies will cause dry eye because the primary body reponse to any allergies is IgE. This cascade generates the histamines (common) that people are aware of. It also generates a 20 carbon chain (very powerful) aracadonic fatty acid which cuts the lipid layer and permits excess evaporation.

In addition, items such as BC pills, diuretics, and anti-histamines do decrease the lachrymal function causing tear deficient dry eye. The ADA lists over 600 Rx that induce dry mouth (and dry eye). Almost every Rx has this side effect.

An allergen is defined as anything with a molecular weight greater than 5 kD but less that 50 kD (kilo Daltons, particle size). Clinical studies have shown that 88% of ocular allergies can be washed away by simple saline, or other drops you may prefer (such as Viva Drops - CVS). That is where I would start. In addition, other studies have shown that permanent (as opposed to temporary) punctal occlusion (PO) will retain the proper protective biochemicals. PO may also have the side benefit of accumulating enough aqueous to "wash" away the allergens.

You may also want to try a mast cell stabilizer which usually does not have the same side effect of inducing Tear Deficient Dry Eye (in other words, trading your primary etiology (Evaporative Dry Eye from the IgE cascade) for another type called Tear Deficient Dry Eye.

I would suggest a short (few days) of simple saline and see if that begins to help. If it does, go to your doctor and ask for a mast cell stabilizer and permanent punctal occlusion. He/she may want to try temporary occlusion, but the temporary method has lots of flaws such as: 1) everybody has a different sized puncta, 2) if the doc uses collagen plugs they will dissolve at a rate based upon you individual amount of collagenase (the enzyme that dissolves collagen). This causes the effect to be suspect in that some people will dissolve these temps in 4 hours and some will dissolve in 5 days.

A third problem is that this puncta is the opening into the tube that runs from you eyelid to you nose. That is why your nose gets wet when you cry. This tube has a systolic movement which will try and expel the temp plug, and in many cases the pump action wins. Thus, the temp cycle may be ineffective. However, most doctors will insist on you jumping that hoop, as that is the way they have been trained.

[Jen72]

Wow, thank you teartest. This is valuable info for me as I am going to see an allergist for the first time on Thurs. I have always suspected this, they seem to be less irritable in different environments, cities and seasons(pre-lasek). My situation is severe dry eye following Lasek on 7/10. I am not responding to plugs or restasis after 6 weeks. My eyes were a little dry before and in hindsight I now recognize what my sore eyes were-they were dry eye! I have avoided my Claritin and am just suffering through. Any advice you could give me would be so appreciated.