Allergy Testing by AllerFocus™
Dry Eye Treatment, Arlington, TN
AllerFocus™ allergy testing allows our eye doctor to pinpoint the root cause of your allergies and identify the best treatment approach to alleviate dry eye symptoms.
If you suffer from dry eye symptoms such as burning, itchy eyes, your allergies may be to blame. Unfortunately, the medications used to treat allergies can also cause dry eye symptoms as a side effect. Our eye care professionals in Arlington offer AllerFocus™ allergy testing to help patients suffering from dry eye symptoms due to ocular allergies or allergy medications. This testing pinpoints the exact cause of your allergies so you can be treated without taking allergy medications that could worsen your dry eye symptoms.
What are the symptoms of eye allergies?
Allergies can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including red, itchy eyes and dry eye. If your symptoms are related to an eye allergy, you will most likely have problems in both eyes.
Symptoms typically include:
- Watery eyes
- Itchiness
- Sensitivity to light
- Redness
- Grittiness
- Eyelid swelling
These symptoms can occur alone or in conjunction with allergic rhinitis nasal symptoms. Normally, an allergic reaction occurs shortly after exposure. Seasonal outdoor allergens generally cause more serious symptoms than indoor allergens like dust mites or pet dander. Allergy medications such as antihistamines can suppress allergic reactions and reduce symptoms.
Allergy testing by AllerFocus™
The first step to finding relief from eye allergies is determining what’s causing the reaction. While eye drops and other treatments can help relieve eye allergy symptoms, allergy testing with AllerFocus™ is an effective way to ascertain exactly what is causing your allergies and identify the best treatment approach. Once the allergen is identified, AllerFocus™ provides sublingual immunotherapy to help you build a tolerance to the allergen so that you can stop taking the allergy medications that potentially exacerbate your dry eye symptoms.
What is sublingual immunotherapy?
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a type of allergy treatment that involves administering small doses of an allergen extract beneath the tongue. This treatment helps to desensitize people who are sensitive or allergic to certain substances. It works by slowly introducing their body to those substances in low doses and helping them build up a tolerance over time. As their body becomes less sensitive to those allergens, their symptoms will usually decrease or even disappear entirely.
The benefits of SLIT
One of the biggest advantages of SLIT is that it allows patients to avoid many of the unpleasant side effects associated with traditional allergy medications such as antihistamines. It also avoids exposing patients’ bodies to large amounts of an allergen at once, meaning they are less likely to experience an allergic reaction during treatment. Finally, unlike some other forms of immunotherapy, SLIT does not require injections or any other invasive procedures, making it much more convenient than other treatments available today.
Schedule an appointment at Primary Eye Care
If you think allergies or allergy medications are causing your dry eye symptoms, our expert doctor and team are here to help you get relief. Schedule an appointment for an eye exam at our Arlington location today.
