Severe eye allergy to unknown laboratory chemical - PLEASE HELP!

[becamber]

I am currently undertaking a pHd in a microbiology laboratory and have begun suffering from a severe eye allergy to some chemical present in the lab where I work. I first had the reaction at the end of my honors year in the same lab when i noticed slight soreness and redness in both eyes and within 1 hour of these symptoms it progressed to severe swelling, very red, bloodshot eyes, and intense pain, and being firstly unable to close my eyes then progressing to being unable to open them and being very sensitive to light. After seeing several GPs which each gave me different diagnoses and treatments with ointments, antibiotics and antihistamines, I was eventually given the diagnosis of a severe allergic reaction and was taking 1 antihistamine tablet a day which prevented the reaction from returning. I then took a year off and have had no problems with my eyes. I have recently returned to the lab approx a month ago and have had the same reaction again (hence the assumption that the allergy is to something in the lab) and took the same antihistamine and used over the counter antihistamine drops which had no effect. I have been prescribed fluorometholone eyedrops and tobramycin ointment which have cleared up the allergy.

I am now faced with trying to figure out what I could be allergic to? and what can I do to manage this so that I can finish my work? Is it possible that I am breathing in a vapor which is presenting as a reaction in my eyes or must it have direct contact with my eyes? Is it possible to figure out what is causing my reaction with the 100s of chemicals present in the lab?

Some other notes which may help:
-I am very careful in the lab, I always wear gloves, don't touch my eyes, and wash my hands with microshield before leaving
-All hazardous chemicals which produce fumes are used in a fumehood
-I was not using any different chemical on the day I got the reaction than what I had been using daily for the past month
-I have been exposed to Ampicillin, Tetracycline, Streptomycin, Geneticin and Kanamycin and have not had any problem and Chloramphenicol is available in our lab but nobody has been accessing it.

Any information that could help me would be greatly appreciated!!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

These symptoms can be due to eye allergies to fumes or chemicals coming in contact with the hands.Even latex in gloves can cause allergies.

I would recommend consulting an allergist and getting yourself tested for the lab chemicals which may act as allergens.Skin tests and blood tests like RAST are used for this purpose.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted.

[PlateletGal]

I remember when Anderson Cooper on CNN did a special about chemical sensitivities. He did testing on himself and was surprised to find out that he was allergic to one of the chemicals in the make-up that he wears during his broadcasts.

I hate to tell you this, but I don't think it is healthy to be around substances that are making you ill. Sure, you can take drugs to help your symptoms... but imagine what this chemical is doing to your body.

Anyhow, if you would like to get tested, I strongly recommend googling, "ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies LLC".  Before you get consider getting tested, I would definitely call them and ask to speak with one of their medical professionals. I would make sure that they can test you for the chemicals that you are exposed to at work. I had tested done through this lab and highly recommend. I knew that I had a chemical sensitivity to gasoline fumes. Elisa/ACT confirmed this. After you have testing done through their lab, they send you a card with your allergies or chemical sensitivities and a book with your personalized information, including tips on how to aovid these substances and nutritional information. They were wonderful to deal with. Not all insurance companies cover the testing, but my insurance company did.

Please let me know what happens if you can. I have some other ideas up my sleeve that may help, but they involve "alternative medicine". (which should be called "before western medicine")

Best,

~PlateletGal