Treatment Allergic Conjunctivitis

This section is about what over the counter treatments are available (not all treatments may be available in that country) and how they help.

Check all ingredients to make sure not allergic/sensitive to any of ingredients.
If you are a soft contact lens wearer you cannot use preservatives containing benzalkonium at the same time.
Unless stated otherwise (soft contact lens wearers can wear their lens 24 hours after their last drop of completed course (hard lens wearers straight after).
All eye drops (not vials) should be discarded after 28 days of opening unless stated otherwise.
All eyes products can cause blurred vision initially, should clear after blinking.
Ointment/gel may take longer to clear (due to its viscosity, thicker formulation) and should ideally be used just before sleep.

Aim:

To reduce the allergic reaction (by stopping histamine being released from the eye cells) and let one continue their daily routine.

There are a wide range of treatments available.

Sodium cromoglycate

These drops contain sodium cromoglicate, they help by stabilising the cells in the eye that release the chemical histamines (preventing its release) and can be used with antihistamine/steroid nasal spray.

Antazoline with Xylometazoline

Eye drops that contain decongestant and antihistamine, they help to stop runny, irritated and red eyes and stop histamine to cause its symptoms.
One should talk to their pharmacist if wanting to use with other antihistamine containing products containing products (particularly cold and flu, hayfever and allergy products).

Salt Water Sachets/drops (sodium chloride)

Salt has natural antiseptic properties. Sachets are used to irrigate/wash the eye out and hence remove bacteria.
Drops are ideal to carry and less messy and again are used to wash the eye out and fight the bacteria.

Wipes

Wipes are available to clean the eye.

Eye Wash

Help to flood the eye and remove bacteria. They also have antiseptic properties, from plant extracts.

In regards to eye conditions: some may have a mixture of Allergy conjunctivitis and/or Bacterial conjunctivitis, and/or Styes and/or Allergy (swollen eyes) and/or Dry eyes and may need to treat those conditions as well, please refer accordingly to the above chapters and look at those treatments

Vitamins

Multivitamins are not intended to prevent long term conditions, reduce infection and is not proven (or data is weak) to help with cancer.

These are essential nutrients that the body requires in small amounts to function properly.