eys gritty, hurt outside

I am taking allergy shots, which are helping a lot for the runny nose, cough etc for my allergies. I was tested and allergic to 22 of the 44 things in the tests. My problem is after I am outside for about 2 hours, my eyes start itching, running, and they feel like they have gravel in them. By the time I get home from work (outside or in car 8 hrs a day) I have rubbed my eyes raw. My opthamologist perscribed Optivar to help. It helps somewhat, but not enough. This morning I still have a pain level of 4 in my left eye. Is there something which might be better? Or what else can I do? I love Spring, but my eyes don't!

[National Jewish Health]

Optivar (Azelastine) is an antihistamine, a fairly potent one, but you might want to ask your eye doctor about possibly using a corticosteroid eye drop to quell the severe allergic reaction.    Also, you might want to consider the use of wrap-around  or sealed glasses to reduce the amount of airborne allergen reaching your eyes.

Itching is one thing – pain is another especially bad eye pain. Probably just that awful feeling of gravel in the eyes.  You might want to check with your eye doctor about the possibility that something else might be causing the pain.  

It would also be wise to check your mannerisms to see if possibly you are inadvertently introducing something, from your hands, into your eyes, prior to going outside.

Good luck

[Dr_Subir]

Are you an asthamatic? And what medicines are you taking as allergy shots?

[LLWB]

No, I'm not asmatic. I give my allergy shots at home for maintainence now, and the vials are marked A,B,& C. So I'm not sure exactly what is in them. Might they be the cause of the eye sx? Thank you.