Eye Care

[Vitamin Sea]

My allergies have bothered me so much for the past 10 years. I’ve got blocked sinuses every morning, and itchy, watery eyes all the time. I thought it was astigmatism. So, I went to an optometrist and after some tests, she told me, You’ve got 20/20 vision. What brings you here? So I told her about my itchy eyes, and she recommended me some lubricant eye drops. It gives me a kind of relief in the beginning, but not on worse allergy days.

With keen observation, I noticed that soap and shampoo with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate irritate my eyes badly. I have replaced them with organic ones. Even just getting close to those products makes me teary eyed. Detergents and dishwashing liquid have got strong surfactants too. I remember we were at the supermarket’s detergent aisle when my husband bumped into a friend, and I was introduced to him, he got too concerned why I was crying. And at church, the place was filled with incense that it really made my eyes burn, I couldnt stop my tears like I was crying over the priest’s sermon.

Pollen and rain also hurt my peepers. I rub my eyes like crazy, it is a nasty habit I want to break. Several doctors have recommended me antihistamine over the years, that they all get mixed up in my head when I get to the drugstore i.e. Alnix or Virlix, Claritin or Claricort, Zykast or Xyzal, lol.. They seem effective for a few weeks, but my eye allergies persist later.

Some products from abroad can’t be shipped to my country like I want to try netipot or sinus rinse for my sinus issues but it isnt possible. We also have limited brands for eye drops, they are being regulated for some reasons.

Who else in this forum has this problem? How do you take care of your eyes?

 

[tree]

Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine.

If you aren't already taking Vitamin C,
I recommend it.

Also Garlic oil.

These things help me.

 

[Mia]

Some products from abroad can’t be shipped to my country like I want to try netipot or sinus rinse for my sinus issues but it isnt possible.

I don't have a neti pot, I use a small one cup teapot only for sinus rinses. It works in the same way that a neti pot does. 8 oz of boiled (about 5 min) water, cooled and half a teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt (some people put in a pinch of baking soda).
Breathe quickly when you do it, there is a tendency to hold your breath. Pour through one nostril with your head tilted over a sink and it should run out the other nostril. One ear should be almost touching your shoulder when doing so.

 

[Loren]

I use this natural, nasal spray in the photo, below, for my eye allergy symptoms, and, as a daily cleansing of the nasal passages, and a preventative measure when around people with colds, etcetera, and it works very well. My eyes become quite itchy and cloudy when I am around cats and dogs, if not the hypoallergenic type, but, if I use Xlear, prior to and during time spent around dogs, I do not experience eye allergy symptoms, for some reason, despite the spray being a nasal spray. I don't use a neti pot, as it burns my sinuses, terribly, but, they do make this solution for neti pots, in case you go Mia's route with the mini teapot and wish to try it, if they have it available in your country. Or, you can purchase the ingredients, separately, and mix your own solution. All that it consists of, is: Purified Water, Xylitol, Saline (saltwater) and grapefruit seed extract. They mention the grapefruit seed extract is used to preserve the solution, but, grapefruit seed extract, also kills fungus and other microorganisms, such as parasites and whatnot.

Here is a link to a page on their website, that provides an explanation of how it works, as well as a few good solutions for minimizing seasonal and other allergy symptoms. I hope you find something that works for you, and things improve, rapidly. https://xylitol.org/xylitol-nasal-spray-recipe-whats-xlear/

(If we are not permitted to post this sort of information, please let me know and I will delete it, ASAP)

 

[Mary Anne]

I don't have a neti pot, I use a small one cup teapot only for sinus rinses. It works in the same way that a neti pot does. 8 oz of boiled (about 5 min) water, cooled and half a teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt (some people put in a pinch of baking soda).
Breathe quickly when you do it, there is a tendency to hold your breath. Pour through one nostril with your head tilted over a sink and it should run out the other nostril. One ear should be almost touching your shoulder when doing so.

I use a ear/nasal irrigator bulb to squirt warm homemade nasal saline solution up my nose. Every drugstore has these- they are made of rubber, and look like a large tear drop. They might be located in the baby aisle.

Also, I like to put a bit of baking soda in my salt and water solution as it softens the water, and buffers the salt. I tend to do a little more salty solution frequently when I have a sinus infection, and I do not like any burning, so the baking soda stops that. Nearly every commercial saline solution has some sort of buffering in it, and many online recipes call for Baking soda.

I find that without the rubber bulb squirt, the pouring via cup or bottle is just way too difficult and messy. I tend to lose a lot of solution. Try it with a bulb and you will never use a neti pot or any other method again.

 

[Mary Anne]

My allergies have bothered me so much for the past 10 years. I’ve got blocked sinuses every morning, and itchy, watery eyes all the time. I thought it was astigmatism. So, I went to an optometrist and after some tests, she told me, You’ve got 20/20 vision. What brings you here? So I told her about my itchy eyes, and she recommended me some lubricant eye drops. It gives me a kind of relief in the beginning, but not on worse allergy days.

With keen observation, I noticed that soap and shampoo with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate irritate my eyes badly. I have replaced them with organic ones. Even just getting close to those products makes me teary eyed. Detergents and dishwashing liquid have got strong surfactants too. I remember we were at the supermarket’s detergent aisle when my husband bumped into a friend, and I was introduced to him, he got too concerned why I was crying. And at church, the place was filled with incense that it really made my eyes burn, I couldnt stop my tears like I was crying over the priest’s sermon.

Pollen and rain also hurt my peepers. I rub my eyes like crazy, it is a nasty habit I want to break. Several doctors have recommended me antihistamine over the years, that they all get mixed up in my head when I get to the drugstore i.e. Alnix or Virlix, Claritin or Claricort, Zykast or Xyzal, lol.. They seem effective for a few weeks, but my eye allergies persist later.

Some products from abroad can’t be shipped to my country like I want to try netipot or sinus rinse for my sinus issues but it isnt possible. We also have limited brands for eye drops, they are being regulated for some reasons.

Who else in this forum has this problem? How do you take care of your eyes?

See my other post on using a common drug store item and a homemade solution to irrigate your sinus. I also want to tell you about boric acid as a comforting and helpful eye compress. You should be able to find boric acid in drug store. You mix some in with hot water and stir. Let it cool down and using a cotton ball, or other soft cloth, drench in the solution, squeeze out excess, then hold against your eyes. It feels so good and soothing. It helps to use with eye infections too, such as “sty.” It’s great anytime you have itchy, puffy, or swollen, irritated eyes. I also have read of people doing the same with just used tea bags.

A doctor told me about boric acid solution way back in the 1970s as I always was coming down with sties (along with life-long sinus infections). It’s safe and extremely soothing!

 

[Mia]

I find that without the rubber bulb squirt, the pouring via cup or bottle is just way too difficult and messy.

Thanks for the tip Mary Anne, I have one of those. I'll try it tonight instead of my teapot:

You mix some in with hot water and stir. Let it cool down and using a cotton ball, or other soft cloth, drench in the solution, squeeze out excess, then hold against your eyes. It feels so good and soothing.

Also have some of thatAnd have used it with one of my cats who has allergies as prescribed by the vet. Have also used it for allergies myself.

 

[Nervous Rex]

My allergies have bothered me so much for the past 10 years. I’ve got blocked sinuses every morning, and itchy, watery eyes all the time. I thought it was astigmatism. So, I went to an optometrist and after some tests, she told me, You’ve got 20/20 vision. What brings you here? So I told her about my itchy eyes, and she recommended me some lubricant eye drops. It gives me a kind of relief in the beginning, but not on worse allergy days.

I live in a very dry climate and had to wear hard contact lenses (Rigid Gas Permeable or RGPs) for 30 years, due to keratoconus. With hard lenses, my eyes dry out easily. I tried different types of eye drops and they all hurt when I put them in. I discovered that I could keep my eyes naturally moist by drinking a lot of water. Drinking a lot of water also helps your body flush the allergens out.

I rub my eyes like crazy, it is a nasty habit I want to break. Several doctors have recommended me antihistamine over the years, that they all get mixed up in my head when I get to the drugstore i.e. Alnix or Virlix, Claritin or Claricort, Zykast or Xyzal, lol.. They seem effective for a few weeks, but my eye allergies persist later.

Yes, try to stop rubbing your eyes. Keratoconus often occurs in people with bad allergies, and they suspect it's caused by rubbing your eyes too much.

I also go for regular allergy shots. I did the scratch test and reacted to 47 out of the 52 different environmental allergens. So, basically, I'm allergic to Earth. Allergy shots help tremendously, and I highly recommend them!

I noticed that soap and shampoo with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate irritate my eyes badly.

It sounds like your body is overwhelmed by allergies. Once your body is overwhelmed, you'll react more severely to all other irritants, even the mild ones. If you get help for your allergies, your sensitivity to soaps and other chemicals may decrease.

 

[Vitamin Sea]

Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine.

If you aren't already taking Vitamin C,
I recommend it.

Also Garlic oil.

These things help me.

Thanks @tree!

 

[Vitamin Sea]

I don't have a neti pot, I use a small one cup teapot only for sinus rinses. It works in the same way that a neti pot does. 8 oz of boiled (about 5 min) water, cooled and half a teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt (some people put in a pinch of baking soda).
Breathe quickly when you do it, there is a tendency to hold your breath. Pour through one nostril with your head tilted over a sink and it should run out the other nostril. One ear should be almost touching your shoulder when doing so.

Thanks @Mia

 

[Vitamin Sea]

I use this natural, nasal spray in the photo, below, for my eye allergy symptoms, and, as a daily cleansing of the nasal passages, and a preventative measure when around people with colds, etcetera, and it works very well. My eyes become quite itchy and cloudy when I am around cats and dogs, if not the hypoallergenic type, but, if I use Xlear, prior to and during time spent around dogs, I do not experience eye allergy symptoms, for some reason, despite the spray being a nasal spray. I don't use a neti pot, as it burns my sinuses, terribly, but, they do make this solution for neti pots, in case you go Mia's route with the mini teapot and wish to try it, if they have it available in your country. Or, you can purchase the ingredients, separately, and mix your own solution. All that it consists of, is: Purified Water, Xylitol, Saline (saltwater) and grapefruit seed extract. They mention the grapefruit seed extract is used to preserve the solution, but, grapefruit seed extract, also kills fungus and other microorganisms, such as parasites and whatnot.

Here is a link to a page on their website, that provides an explanation of how it works, as well as a few good solutions for minimizing seasonal and other allergy symptoms. I hope you find something that works for you, and things improve, rapidly. https://xylitol.org/xylitol-nasal-spray-recipe-whats-xlear/

(If we are not permitted to post this sort of information, please let me know and I will delete it, ASAP)

Thanks @Loren.

 

[Vitamin Sea]

See my other post on using a common drug store item and a homemade solution to irrigate your sinus. I also want to tell you about boric acid as a comforting and helpful eye compress. You should be able to find boric acid in drug store. You mix some in with hot water and stir. Let it cool down and using a cotton ball, or other soft cloth, drench in the solution, squeeze out excess, then hold against your eyes. It feels so good and soothing. It helps to use with eye infections too, such as “sty.” It’s great anytime you have itchy, puffy, or swollen, irritated eyes. I also have read of people doing the same with just used tea bags.

A doctor told me about boric acid solution way back in the 1970s as I always was coming down with sties (along with life-long sinus infections). It’s safe and extremely soothing!

Thanks @Mary Anne

The rubber squirt hack is great!

 

[Vitamin Sea]

I live in a very dry climate and had to wear hard contact lenses (Rigid Gas Permeable or RGPs) for 30 years, due to keratoconus. With hard lenses, my eyes dry out easily. I tried different types of eye drops and they all hurt when I put them in. I discovered that I could keep my eyes naturally moist by drinking a lot of water. Drinking a lot of water also helps your body flush the allergens out.



Yes, try to stop rubbing your eyes. Keratoconus often occurs in people with bad allergies, and they suspect it's caused by rubbing your eyes too much.

I also go for regular allergy shots. I did the scratch test and reacted to 47 out of the 52 different environmental allergens. So, basically, I'm allergic to Earth. Allergy shots help tremendously, and I highly recommend them!



It sounds like your body is overwhelmed by allergies. Once your body is overwhelmed, you'll react more severely to all other irritants, even the mild ones. If you get help for your allergies, your sensitivity to soaps and other chemicals may decrease.

Thanks @Nervous Rex
I have also thought that I'm allergic to earth. Now I found company.

 

[SusanLR]

I have chronic dry eyes syndrome and allergy eyes and I use all of the above listed in the posts.
They are all good recommendations.
I do use some prescription meds in the eyes that my eye doctor prescribes.
Restasis: an anti- inflammatory eyedrop that inhibits the overly active cytokines in the tear film.
Bepreve: This is an antihistamine eye drop by prescription. There are other brands. Ask the doctor.
Lotemax eye gel: Again there are others, but, it is a gel with anti- inflammatory properties that you put
on the lower eyelid at night before going to sleep. Works to keep eyes moist. Need script for certain brands.

Don't use eyedrops that advertise it gets the red out. Contains an ingredient that drys the eyes.
Artificial tears types only. Sterile, one use vials brands I use.

Hyalauronic acid eye drops can be found in some countries. A natural ingredient that produces collagen in the eye thus protecting eye cornea surface. I order mine from UK. Google it.

My eye doc also recommended Curcumin and Omega oils as supplements along with the vita C.
It is a constant battle with my eyes.
Lots of good recommendations here and asking an Opthamologist about them is the best way to go.

 

[Tom]

I have a lighter version of your eye symptoms but can relate. I also get blocked sinus, sinus headaches and sore throat from allergens (or strong chemicals).

The only thing I use is Benadryl (antihistamine - Diphenhydramine). I don't take it regularly like a maintenance med, just when the symptoms are bad and it seems to work OK for me.

 

[Vitamin Sea]

An update: I visited an allergologist last Saturday, and she prescribed Avamys nasal spray for my rhinitis, and I have to change most of my skin care products to Cetaphil. I will take my antihistamine straight for 7 days.

I visited an ophthalmologist for my allergic conjunctivitis, I was prescribed eyedrops for allergies. A bonus is that my vision is 20/20! I am overjoyed!

 

[Mary Anne]

I use Targets Up & Up brand of “nighttime relief lubricant eye ointment.” I have to use this 24/7. It’s the only thing that works in my eyes, as I cannot use other products that use too much mineral oil. Drops and gels have never worked for my severe dry eye syndrome. Punctual plugs always fell out within a day, so I do not use them anymore.

I also use a lutein rich daily supplement for eyes called “Dr. Krawitz Macular Support “ that is found at Vitamin Shoppe.

Know that using prescription nasal sprays (I use Flonase daily to stop the chronic sinus infections) have steroids, and can cause glaucoma and or cateracts after years of use. I now have cateracts!!!! That is because I also get steroid injections 3 times a year for spine pain.

Google diyphenydramine to be aware of all its dangers if taken too frequently. I was taking it daily as a sleep aid (over the counter sleep tablet,) until I read all about it. Now, I take it only once a week, no matter how bad my insomnia gets.

 

[Vitamin Sea]

I use Targets Up & Up brand of “nighttime relief lubricant eye ointment.” I have to use this 24/7. It’s the only thing that works in my eyes, as I cannot use other products that use too much mineral oil. Drops and gels have never worked for my severe dry eye syndrome. Punctual plugs always fell out within a day, so I do not use them anymore.

I also use a lutein rich daily supplement for eyes called “Dr. Krawitz Macular Support “ that is found at Vitamin Shoppe.

Know that using prescription nasal sprays (I use Flonase daily to stop the chronic sinus infections) have steroids, and can cause glaucoma and or cateracts after years of use. I now have cateracts!!!! That is because I also get steroid injections 3 times a year for spine pain.

Google diyphenydramine to be aware of all its dangers if taken too frequently. I was taking it daily as a sleep aid (over the counter sleep tablet,) until I read all about it. Now, I take it only once a week, no matter how bad my insomnia gets.

I will try taking lutein supplements if I can drop by a health shop. Now, my bag is filled with nasal spray, lubricant eye drops, allergy eye drops, 2 kinds of skin ointment for my skin asthma, and antihistamine. Now, I have a mini pharmacy in my bag. And yes, I will be more careful in using these products with moderation.

I hope your cataracts will be gone soon. All the best.

Aspies and allergies- they rhyme but are they correlated?

 

[Mary Anne]

I will try taking lutein supplements if I can drop by a health shop. Now, my bag is filled with nasal spray, lubricant eye drops, allergy eye drops, 2 kinds of skin ointment for my skin asthma, and antihistamine. Now, I have a mini pharmacy in my bag. And yes, I will be more careful in using these products with moderation.

I hope your cataracts will be gone soon. All the best.

Aspies and allergies- they rhyme but are they correlated?

Cateracts wont go away without surgery
I am not “bad enough yet” for insurance qualifications. So I got to wait. Uggggh.

 

[Vitamin Sea]

Cateracts wont go away without surgery
I am not “bad enough yet” for insurance qualifications. So I got to wait. Uggggh.

Yes, but the thought about surgery is so creepy.. so I just wrote will be gone soon. Take care.