The 2020 Spring Allergy Season Is Here: 3 Takeaways for Optometrists

Michael Cooper, OD

Innovaction and Research, Solinsky EyeCare

About Author

For those of us treating patients that suffer from itchy eyes caused by seasonal and/or perennial allergies, we’ve learned this allergy season looked a little different. Nearly 66 million Americans suffer from ocular allergies.^[1-4] As the impact of allergy season concludes for this spring, I reflect on the ways that we can expect the care for ocular allergies to change for years to come: 

Patients worry about the symptoms of ocular allergies being more serious

In years past, we’ve faced questions during allergy season about itchy eye symptoms that can easily be confused with viral infections. This year, patients were asking a very specific question: “Are my symptoms related to allergies or COVID-19?” We can now anticipate this concern from patients for future years, and should emphasize specific symptoms, like “goopy” discharge from eyes, that may signal a viral infection, so they know when to come to us and when to see their physician.

Telehealth is here to stay

Where we see our patients is going to change as well. One significant change we have experienced during the coronavirus pandemic has been the rise of telemedicine. In fact, analysts at Forrester Research recently shared their prediction that “virtual health-care interactions” could reach 1 billion visits by the end of this year.⁵ The rise – and adoption of telemedicine – is no surprise as many patients chose alternatives to the traditional office visit. What this means for eye care professionals is an increased reliance on asking questions over being able to see symptoms up close. Asking our patients about a scratchy throat, cough and fever will help determine whether the itchy eyes are a result of allergies or a viral infection. Introducing chronology into the situation will make the patient consider when the itching first presented as a symptom. Understanding if the itching began when flowers started to bloom or on days when wind is blowing pollen, may tie the itch back to seasonal allergies.

We need to make it easy for patients

How we treat patients also changed this year. Our patients have new demands like ease of getting medications. Being able to recommend medications over-the-counter will help give more patients access to relief. Fortunately, this year two formulations of olopatadine, formerly only available via prescription, are now available over the counter so you can point customers to the store shelves, or online, to find relief for ocular allergy itch. PATADAY Once Daily Relief (olopatadine 0.2%) and PATADAY Twice Daily Relief (olopatadine 0.1%) eye allergy itch relief drops provide long-lasting, prescription-strength relief for itchy allergy eyes.^[6-7] These types of fast-acting, long-lasting treatments can be especially important for patients being told to avoid touching their eyes.

References

Michael S. Cooper, OD is an Optometrist and Director of Innovation and Research at Solinsky EyeCare in West Hartford, CT. He specializes in anterior segment disease treating a variety of conditions including dry eye and lid diseases, allergy, and uveitis.