Looking to cure dry, itchy eyes

Our eyes do a remarkable job – helping to guide us in whatever direction we desire to go, enabling us to enjoy the visual delights of nature, even keeping up-to-date with news and information by way of newspapers, books, television and internet.

Just like a convenience store, they’re pretty much open all hours – well, for most of us, they’re open at least 16 out of 24 hours each day. And we tend to make a bit of a convenience of them as well. Generally speaking we don’t take care of our eyes like we should.

No surprise then that red eyes and dry eyes are two of the commonest conditions presented to us in the pharmacy.

Too many late-night parties, or working well into the early hours of the morning, can cause the eyes to be dry and red, and looking as though they need a trip to the blood bank to be drained. A smoking environment and the dry atmosphere from so-called air-conditioned comfort can also contribute to this irritating condition. So some lifestyle changes may be an essential part of the “cure”.

In fact dry eye is a chronic condition. If you have dry skin it’s very likely that you’ll also have dry eye, and dry eye deserves to be treated. It’s not just a trivial and mildly irritating condition. Severe chronic dry eye can lead to serious eye problems.

More tears may seem to be the answer; but as we get older both the quantity and the quality of tears deteriorate. We lose that moisturising, lubricating, protecting effect provided by natural tears. So a supplement of artificial tears may be necessary. The preservative-free, single use vials, marketed as products such as Refresh, Cellufresh and Celluvisc should be considered by contact lens wearers, frequent users or people sensitive to some of the commonly used preservatives.

Dry eyes can increase the likelihood of eyes becoming red or inflamed, but there are many other reasons for red eye as well. Often it’s infectious or allergic conjunctivitis.

Mild viral infections are best treated with lubricant drops, cold compresses and pain relievers. Bacterial infections, where the eyelids become glued up with a discharge, often resolve without treatment, but propamidine (Brolene) eye drops may help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.

Allergic conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes. It is often associated with asthma, eczema and especially hay fever. For many hay fever sufferers red, swollen, itchy and watery eyes are the most irritating of their symptoms.

The non-sedating antihistamines and the intranasal corticosteroid sprays (Rhinocort or Beconase) can sometimes control symptoms but, for other than really mild symptoms, antihistamine eye drops alone or in combination with the oral antihistamines and/or corticosteroid nasal sprays will offer the best relief. Ketotifen (Zaditen) eye drops which combine several anti-inflammatory, anti-itch ingredients seem to be most effective.

Zaditen is a pharmacist-only product, so if you have recurrent or severe allergic conjunctivitis, ask your pharmacist.

You can also ask your oze-pharmacist for the Red and Dry Eyes Fact Card.

Remember, if there is pain behind the eye, alteration of vision, increased sensitivity to light, or if the eye problem is accompanied by headache, nausea or vomiting, see your doctor promptly.