Treatment:

The best treatment is avoiding exposure to the cause or allergen; unfortunately, this is not often practical. Discomfort can be relieved by applying cool compresses to the eyes or taking antihistamines by mouth (many of these are available over-the-counter).

For episodes that do not respond to the treatments above, treatment by the health care provider may be necessary. This may include:

• Giving ophthalmic (eye) antihistamine or anti-inflammatory drops
• Giving mild ophthalmic steroid preparations, directly on the surface of the eye, for severe reactions
• Giving eye drops of medicine that stop mast cells (special white blood cells) from releasing histamine; these drops are given in combination with antihistamines for moderate to severe reactions

Expectations (prognosis):

Treatment usually relieves the symptoms. However, the condition tends to recur if exposure to the offending agent continues.

Complications:

There are no serious complications; persistent discomfort is common.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you experience allergic conjunctivitis and it is unresponsive to over-the-counter treatment.