Treating Allergic Reactions in the Eye

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Treating Allergic Reactions in the Eye

Question:

How do you treat poison ivy/oak when it is in your eye?

Answer:

The therapy depends on what part of the eye is involved and how severe it is. If by "eye," you actually mean the skin of the eyelids, then topical corticosteroid creams or lotions are usually sufficient, unless the reaction is severe. If severe, an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone will likely be needed. Most doctors start with a relatively high dose of oral corticosteroid and taper down the dose over a week or two.

If the exposure is really to the eye itself, then the steroids are given in eye drop or ointment form for at most two weeks, or a shorter time if the symptoms go away more quickly.

A simple additional form of therapy is the use of cold compresses. A wet washcloth stored in the refrigerator can be very soothing. A fancier device that looks like goggles filled with a blue gel can be purchased at a cosmetics store. It is used in a similar manner.

Don Bienfang, M.D, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the Senior Surgeon in the Department of Surgery and Chief of Neuro-Ophthalmology in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009