How to know if you are allergic to an over the counter eye drop or prescription eye drop medication.

Following are classic, typical allergic reaction symptoms.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Eye (or eyes if both being treated) turns beet red, really red. It may be redder than prior to treatment. One caveat: some glaucoma medications induce redness which is quite normal.

2. Eye (or eyes if both being treated) is very irritated, uncomfortable and burns markedly. The irritation and burning symptom does not go away after a few minutes. It is quite normal to feel a little irritation and burning with many eye drop medications but should dissipate after a few minutes.

3. You develop a dark and/red skin discoloration on lower eyelids after starting eye drop medication.

4. 
    

   If you experience any or all of the above symptoms, stop using the drops and call your eye doctor right away. Inform your doctor about your symptoms. He/she may change the medication or have you come in for office visit to examine the eyes before changing medication.

5. If you are not sure whether your symptoms are allergic in nature, call your eye doctor in any case to express your concern.

Tips & Warnings

• You may contact your primary care physician if you are not established with an eye doctor.

[grouch]

on 12/20/2007 I wonder if there is a way to test this ahead of time. I would much rather spend the day iching my hand then my eyes.