Allergy eye drops (4/2026)Updated 4 minutes ago

Dates: April 13-29, 2026

Participants: 107

Rebecca's comments:

Environmental allergies are affecting many people's eyes
Only 1 in 4 survey participants with ocular allergy symptoms has been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis. Is this an opportunity to talk more with your doctor about these symptoms?
Almost everyone uses lubricant drops, and more than half use over-the-counter antihistamine drops, but thankfully most people do not use decongestant (redness reliever) eye drops!
Nearly a third have used steroid eye drops
About a quarter have used prescription antihistamine eye drops
Olopatadine (Pataday) was most commonly cited as an effective treatment.

SECTION 1: What is your experience with eye allergy symptoms and diagnosis?

QUESTION 1: In the past 2 years, have you suffered from symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis such as itching and redness?

QUESTION 2: Overall, how would you describe your symptom severity?

Among the 54 responses, the most commonly cited cause: pollen, and several people mentioned specific locations where pollen season is particularly challenging (Texas, Atlanta, central Ohio). Additional contributors included dust, ragweed, and wildfires.

Here are a examples of comments:

According to allergy tests administered by a medical professional I’m not allergic to anything. But when there’s a lot of pollen in the air, my eyes are constantly in pain.
I have several pollen allergies; weeds, trees and grasses so there’s always something in the air I’m allergic to.
Allergy season is particularly bad since I'm most allergic to grasses.
I live in a semi arid climate (CO), so actually better here than when I lived in more humid climates
I'm allergic to normal contact lens, that's why I was prescribed Scleral lens. Now I feel my eyes have realized they are contacts and the allergy symptoms are returning
I'm never sure if it's allergies or just dryness, wind or some other factor.
well, the eye doctor always says that you have an allergy and the bumps are showing this. I have not found anything that has made a difference and I want to avoid steriod drops
Have had desensitisation treatment for grass and tree pollen so symptoms far less now
My optometrist told me that eye allergies and dry eye are interrelated- having dry eyes has contributed to my ocular allergies. Unfortunately, I’m sensitive to BAK and unable to tolerate antihistamine eyedrops that aren’t preservative- free (Zaditen preservative-free is no longer available from New Zealand or Australia). Does anyone on this forum know of a compounding pharmacy in the US that will make preservative-free antihistamine eyedrops? I’m desperate! Thank you.
I’m a keratoconus patient with dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis. This year I’ve had several severe episodes where I couldn’t wear my sclera lenses more a few hours.
hot and dry/dusty weather; in the spring when many things are starting to bloom; freshly cut grass/shrubs; moving to a new place
Main symptom is developing a film on the eye and in the lens requiring removal and cleaning a couple times a day
My optometrist told me that eye allergies and dry eye are interrelated- having dry eyes has contributed to my ocular allergies. Unfortunately, I’m sensitive to BAK and unable to tolerate antihistamine eyedrops that aren’t preservative- free (Zaditen preservative-free is no longer available from New Zealand or Australia). Does anyone on this forum know of a compounding pharmacy in the US that will make preservative-free antihistamine eyedrops? I’m desperate! Thank you.
My eyes cleared up when I changed my laundry detergent and soap products.
I am allergic to everything. I just didn’t know. My allergies developed during a critical time in my glaucoma treatment. I had a lot of inflammation and uncontrolled dry eye. All of these things together created a perfect storm and terrible condition of my eyes. Once I started treating the allergies and strategically treating dry eye, the overall condition of my corneas is better.

QUESTION 4: In the past 2 years, have you been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis?

SECTION 2: What treatments have you tried for these symptoms?

QUESTION 5: Over-the-counter

QUESTION 6: Prescription-only

QUESTION 7: What else have you tried?

I stay indoors as much as possible. When I will be spending any time outside my house it seems to help to wear my contacts like as bandages maybe

Typically, wash around eye with baby shampoo. Also, use other prescribed ointments such as TobraDex, etc.
I just use lubricating, moisturizing drops or remove scleral lenses, rinse, fill and reinsert.
Using B&L eye wash after removing contacts for the day
Extra rinsing for lids/eyes with Purilens, more mid-day refreshes, and avenova to keep debris out of eyes 2x day
Warm compresses.
Acupuncture and acupressure
Nasal corticosteroid, nasal Azelastine HCI
Vaseline up my nose and Ziena glasses
After they discontinued Alaway individual vials with no preservatives, I order Zaditen individual vials with no preservatives from Australia.
eyelid scrubs; keeping eye drops in the fridge
A supplement called D-Hist: https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/product/natural-d-hist Also Montelukast 10 mg daily"
Mixing Celuvisc with Purilens in the lens. Restasis.
Sudafed
retain for allergy - feel overwhelmed right now and can't recall
Plasma tears
Pazeo was dc'ed so started Pataday. Used year round until this year. Now start in early spring when itching starts. End in late fall.
Cyclosporine / Restasis
Tacrolimus ointment on eyelids
I’ve tried preservative-free eyedrops with ectoin- somewhat helpful, but not great.
I will occasionally dab a a little Benadryl cream on the skin near my tear duct (not rubbed into the eye)
too fearful of using anything with preservatives
Allergy shots!
Recently started Cequa for dry eyes, it is helping with the allergic eye symptoms too I feel!
PF Zaditen eye gets - purchased from New Zealand. Have worked well for me for many years, but right now am unable to obtain because seller won't sell while the tariffs are in place. I do not understand why a PF allergy eye drop isn't available in US. I am allergic to benzalkonium chloride so am really between a rock and a hard place now since no US available allergy eyedrop product is made without this preservative.
Fluticasone nasal spray

SECTION 3: What works for you?

Question 8: Overall, what has worked best for your allergic conjunctivitis symptoms? What do you prefer? Please explain.

eye drops from over the counter
My symptoms for this are pretty mild so yes, they have worked
Pataday has helped reduce my reaction to pollen while having severe dry eyes
Staying inside during the changes of seasons. Wearing contacts. And ointment when I can get away with not seeing well
Pataday or elestat. But, I've hardly needed to take either ever since switching from RGP contacts or scleral lenses.
Zyrtec
"Pataday or Zatador
"
Unfortunately every dry eye drop I’ve tried ends up creating allergy itching, tearing and eye pain. These drops were Oasis Plus, Ivizia and Systane Complete PF. I am now trying Biotrue when I wear soft contacts.
Pataday works very well and doesn't dry my eyes. If my eyes get extra itch and red, Systane Complete helps for a short while. I'm thinking of trying Systane Pro as well.
olapatadine, with rare use of a decongestant when symptoms are particularly pronounced
Allegra plus eye drops
wiping face/eye area with wet washcloth after coming inside, lubricant drops, Pataday, living in a more arid place and having hard floors (not carpet)
I don’t use anything due to dry eye.
I'm wearing my scleral lens less, going a few days in between helps.
As needed: Claritin (it can make dry eye worse), Soothe drops. A few times a day: AST.
Prescription steroid drops
Wahing around eyes with baby shampoo and flushing with Purilens and also TobraDex or Erythromycin. Also, Stye ointment.
Moisturing drops suitable for use with sclerals, or removal, rinsing and reinserting sclerals. If these measures work, why would I ever go to "drug drops"?
NA
I take Zyzal around the clock, it seems to help the best.
Cel u visc Renew, Zyrtec
"Restasis preserved drops
"
Air filters, staying inside, extra cleaning routine of lids, lenses and eyes, and overall trying to not overdue OTC products as they make things worse with drying.
Eye drops with ectoin - from Canada. I purchased from a Canadian pharmacy before all the tariff nonsense. I wish I could get those now but I don’t think we can in the US. :(
"Chlorphen 12
"
Pataday
Pataday Allergy 24 hr drops at bedtime.
Nothing works well ENOUGH.. Miebo & Optase which I did not see listed
Lid scrubs, olapataday, steroid drops
allegra, and an eye lubricant
Steroids
Pataday is the absolute best fur me
Taking my Prose lens out and cleaning it repeatedly during the day.
Steroid eye drops plus Zyrtec combo has been working well for me.
Pataday
Pataday seems to work the best long term. Lotemax has worked fine for me short term but I'm concerned about what the long term side effects could be
2x daily Pataday drops, kept in the fridge (feels great!), used as needed. I typically only use them once a day. I also use an eye rinse very occasionally (Bausch and Lomb) to clear out the allergens from my eye (s) if one is particularly bad.
Rx Eye drops, Rx nasal spray, frequent refreshing my contact lenses.
I think it's Alaway although I read recently through the Dry Eye Shop that Alaway has BAK!
Pataday Drops
Comination of Pataday, loradine, and Occusoft eyelid cleaner
Lastacraft OTC
"Combination of Zyrtec plus Pataday. I also use lubricant drops daily which also seem to help my eyes feel better but do not seem to help with allergies.
"
Antihistamine over-the-counter eye drops
Earn eye compression has relieved my itch. But I struggle with the itchy eye lid
allegra and pataday
Steroid eye drops + nasal corticosteroid + olopatadine + BlinkJoy heat mask
Pataday works well.
Pataday
Prescription eye drops
Hycosan Extra
Olapatadine drops plus Ziena glasses
Pataday once a day regular strength
Zaditen individual vials with no preservatives work well. Although it's expensive to get them from Australia. I can't find any alternative allergy eye drops in the US without preservatives.
Steroids to stop the violent episodes and cyclosporine to stabilize long term
Nothing has helped much.
for mild symptoms, Refresh Optive gel in the morning or Refresh Celluvisc gel at night; for moderate symptoms, Zaditor drops and eyelid scrubs
Staying indoors, keeping windows closed is my best strategy. When I walk the dog, I wear sunglasses that seal close to my eyes. When I arrive home I either change my clothes or wipe down with a damp towel my hair, skin and clothing or take a shower.
Staying indoors, a/c (double edge sword in a way since the a/c helps the allergy part it increases dry eye symptoms). Zyrtec
Systemic medications like xyzal and Claritin
Rewetting drops are usually enough to relieve symptoms
Otc benedryl
Nothing really. Just waiting for season to change.
Zyrtec and Systane Complete
Pataday
Tobradex seemed to help. But doctors are reluctant to prescribe because I also use glaucoma drops.
Just took my devices out, cleaned them and put them back in. (It was cherry blossom season in DC and i was affected this time, but have not been there at this time in the past
Pataday
I think the Pataday helped along with using my Neti Pot. I have glaucoma so I’m a bit nervous to try any other eye drops or use them for very long.
I’ve had allergies all of my life but eye symptoms only for the last two years. Antihistamine drops probably work the best but unfortunately I basically have to wait out the symptoms.
Still trying to figure out if I have seasonal allergies or not since wearing sckeral lenses. I seem to have more protein/sticky gunky deposits on the outside of my lenses.
Zyrtec Restasis drops
lotemax
Pataday.
I flush my eyes with saline. Seems to help get rid of the mucous build up.
Pataday at night
Rx eye drops and Rx nasal sprays. Partial relief only.
Nothing - red irritated near eyelashes - no other symptoms like tearing or red eyes.
rinsing eyes with lubricant tears such as Refresh Plus and preservative-free saline solutions
Dexamethasone PF drops
Try to keep eyes well lubricanted after R K surgery
Pataday works.
pataday
"Preservative- free Zaditen eyedrops worked great for me- unfortunately, it’s currently unavailable for purchase.
FML eyedrops also bring relief "
Changing my soap products to those that are more natural and do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate
Washing my face and using allergy eye drops, plus the Benadryl cream works best. If I have a particularly bad allergy, I will take a Benadryl tablet. Since being diagnosed with keratoconus however, I don't rub my eyes like I used to, so I don't get a bad case of allergic conjunctivitis very often.
Allergy shots
Epinestine drops & Oracea for ocular rosacea
nothing actually; just keep eyes as moist and clean as possible
Prednisone eye drops.
over the counter allergy tablets like Allegra
Couldn’t tolerate Cromolyn due to burning. Currently using Restasis, Pataday, an lubricant drops, and systemic singular and Zyrtec, and all monthly allergy shots
I use Pataday twice a day, sometimes three times a day. At the recommendation of my eye doctor I fill my scleral lens with PF artificial tears. I use Celluvisc when I remove my lens and Retaine ointment in the evening.
Pataday helped somewhat (I was using the lowest concentration); Lastacaft made me want to no longer live — no joke it caused major psychological issues for me; since I started Cequa a month ago I no longer have eye allergy symptoms! Thank you for this survey!
Nothing seems to work.
Pataday, just started Lastacraft instead of Pataday, no difference in symptoms, Lastacraft stings more and has unnecessarily larger drops
lots of lubricant drops along with oral antihistamine
Eye drops
Nothing has truly helped
Antihistamine drops, Zyrtec
Allegra, saline drops
azelastine drops have worked well enough although because i have severe dry eye they dry my eyes out so it's not perfect
Pataday
A combination of allergy shots, OTC and prescription drops, and limiting exposure to allergens.
Nothing works very well, it comes and goes but never really comfortable
Prescription eye drops creams and allergy immune built up shots
Refresh eye drops and hot compresses

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