tearing itchy eyes and allergic reaction to dilation drops

[shegoes]

While looking for an answer to my problem, I saw that someone about 7 years ago posted that they had teary and itchy eyes for 2 months after their eye exam. Well, I am in the same situation, going on my second month. I am not allergic to any foods, pollen, etc. I was allergic to something in the 3 different drops that were given in my first eye exam ever. Anybody have any idea what the culprit is?  My face was swollen and tingly, my eyelids were extremely swollen. That is better, but I am left with the other symptoms of tearing and itching. The Dr. prescribed steroid drops, Alrex, that have a bunch of other stuff in them, including a preservative. I am really paranoid about using them in case I should have another bad reaction. Does anyone know if this is now a permanent condition or how long these reactions take to go away on their own?


This discussion is related to itchy and watery eyes after dilation.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Since we cannot examine you cannot tell you whether safe or no. Expiration date is an inventory date not a date that they lose their potency.

JCH MD

[fishlover]

Thanks for the information.  I have the same problem as others.
I have some Lotemax .5% that was kept at room temperature and expired 1/22/14.  Are they still safe and effective to use?
Fishlover

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

We do have a very few number of people that the eyedrops irritate their eyes. For those we use as few drops as consistent with giving a good exam. Before they leave the office I irrigate the eyes and instill a drop prednisilone acetate 1%.  The patients have a bottle of lotemax steroid and they use it every hour until bedtime and on the half hour preservative free artifical tears. They are instructed not to rub the eye or use a tissue without shutting the eye first. They also put a drop of lotemax the next day on awakening, noon, evening then stop them and put in refrigerator to save for next eye visit.

For our eye drops sensitive patients this takes care of the product. Obviously we use the steroids very carefully and some patients like herpes simplex patients cannot use the steroids safely.

JHC MD

[Jxv90]

I just had an eye exam two days ago and I turned out to be allergic to the dilation drops. I did not notice until the day after my eyes were extremely red and my vision was blurry. I met with the optometrist and she checked my eye pressure and said it was fine. She prescribed prednisolone acetate 1% for four times a day. I  am still very worried the redness has reduced but my vision is still blurry.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

We do have a very few number of people that the eyedrops irritate their eyes. For those we use as few drops as consistent with giving a good exam. Before they leave the office I irrigate the eyes and instill a drop prednisilone acetate 1%.  The patients have a bottle of lotemax steroid and they use it every hour until bedtime and on the half hour preservative free artifical tears. They are instructed not to rub the eye or use a tissue without shutting the eye first. They also put a drop of lotemax the next day on awakening, noon, evening then stop them and put in refrigerator to save for next eye visit.

For our eye drops sensitive patients this takes care of the product. Obviously we use the steroids very carefully and some patients like herpes simplex patients cannot use the steroids safely.

JHC MD

[Ironmen]

I had this samething happen last year.  I also was told it was dry eyes. I was given drops, but my eye contiued to water. Then after two months I was sent to an allergist, and put on two eyedrops, two nose sprays and allergy medicine. Eye still watered.  Then I had to have a tube put in my tearduct...I know, YUK!  The eye contnued to water through all of this, even after the tube was removed. After 8 months, I just happen to get a really bad bronchial infection and was put on Prednisone.Low and behold after two days of being on it, my eye cleared up. I have not had any problem for 7 months, until two days ago when I went for my annual eye exam, where I had my eyes dilated and guess what....yep woke up the next day with my eye red and watering. It has to be something in the eye drops.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You don't mention your age. Many women of all ages but especially after 40 then after menopause have dry eyes. It is most likely that the drying effect of the eye drops set this off. Look at the feature articles on this page and read my article about dry eyes. I would suggest you see an eye MD ophthalmologist that specializes in cornea/external disease. you can find one near you at www.geteyesmart.org

JCH MD

[shegoes]

Thank you for your response. I did not have the reaction immediately after the exam. Went home, went to sleep and did not recognize my face the next morning in the mirror. I did call the doctor and he said it should calm down, if not come in. I took benedryl which may have helped with the swelling. I went back to the doctor a week ago and he gave me Refresh, a preservative free artificial tears, I expect. I have been using that 3 times a day for a week. To date it has gotten rid of some of the itching but my eyes are still tearing like crazy. I have never had the slightest problem with dry eyes. Now I have the steroid the doctor has given me that I am really cautious about putting in my eyes because it has a lot of other stuff in it.  If my eyes have been like this for a month, is there any hope of the tearing going away naturally? Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

These drops are metabolized within 24-48 hrs and will not do any permanent damage. Often the problem is a border line dry eyes. One drop numbs the eye (often drying it also) the other dilate (neosynephrine and tropicamide).  In those rare instances where people report problems post exam we have them use preservative free artificial tears hourly after the exam then 4 times per day for 3 days and we put a drop of steroid in the eye at the end of the exam and check the cornea.  Discuss with your "eye doctor"

JCH MD