Blog Hero

Red, Itchy, Watery Eyes 

Spring is here, or at least will be here soon.  This is my favourite time of year.  The birds return, the grass and trees turn bright, fresh green and carefree summer will soon follow.  However, I also dread this time of year just a little bit because my eyes get red, itchy and watery, my nose gets runny and itchy and my throat gets scratchy.  I have hayfever.

For a lot of people, taking an over the counter antihistamine really helps alleviate all of these symptoms.  For a few people, the over the counter antihistamines do not help alleviate the eye symptoms.  If that is the case for you, please make an appointment to see us.  There are some very good anti-allergy eye drops that we can prescribe.  The most commonly prescribed drop is pataday, and it is generally very effective.  If you wear contact lenses, hylo dual, is the only approved medication to be used with contact lenses.

Often switching to single use, daily contact lenses helps reduce symptoms.  This is because the allergens (particles causing the allergies) get thrown away every night and don’t have a chance to build up in the contact lenses and cause even more problems.

In addition to prescription eye drops, some other strategies can really help.  Simple artificial tears can help flush the eyes and flush away the allergens.  Cold compresses can really help.  When we learned about cold compresses in school, I remember thinking “I am not going to use that, I can give people a real solution, I can give them medicine!”  However, when my allergies are really bad, cold compresses are my best friend!  

Good luck!

Written by Dr. Kim Crowe

More Articles By Dr. Kim Crowe

Our Location

Our Address

  • #243, 414 3 St S.W.
  • Calgary, AB T2P 1R2

Contact Information

Hours Of Operation

  • Monday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

PARKING AVAILABLE

Parking is available in the Calgary Place Parkade. Entrance is off 4th Ave. across from the Keg. Be sure to take a ticket when you enter and we’ll provide a voucher for the time of your visit.

Our Blog

Check out our Blog for news updates and eye care tips!

Can Laser Eye Surgery Fix Cataracts?

Laser Eye Surgery, Lasey Eye Surgery

Cataracts occur when our lens in the middle of eye gets cloudy and opaque. They can be a frustrating thing to deal with in your everyday life, and while they are very common, many of our patients wonder about how they are treated. One common question we’re asked is whether or not you can use […]

Read More…

August 9, 2023
Dr. Sherri Norris

Can Dry Eyes Cause Blurriness?

Dry Eye

If you’ve ever experienced redness, gritty, burning, or dry sensation in your eyes, you may have dealt with dry eye syndrome. This is a common condition that affects many Canadians, and it can be a frustrating thing to deal with every day because of the wide range of symptoms and issues it can cause. Dry […]

Read More…

August 9, 2023
Dr. Sherri Norris

How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?

Eye Health

We want everyone to know just how important regular eye exams are for people of all ages. We recommend annual eye exams for school-age children, those with diabetes, those who wear contact lenses, and adults over 65. Adults between the ages of 20 and 64 may only need an exam every 2 years, but that […]

Read More…

June 27, 2023
Downtown Vision Care
Graphical representation of a regular eye and the lens of an eye with a cataract.

Cataracts occur when our lens in the middle of eye gets cloudy and opaque. They can be a frustrating thing to deal with in your everyday life, and while they are very common, many of our patients wonder about how they are treated. One common question we’re asked is whether or not you can use […]

Read More…

A patient is examined with a slit lamp machine at Downtown Vision Care in Calgary

If you’ve ever experienced redness, gritty, burning, or dry sensation in your eyes, you may have dealt with dry eye syndrome. This is a common condition that affects many Canadians, and it can be a frustrating thing to deal with every day because of the wide range of symptoms and issues it can cause. Dry […]

Read More…

A patient is examined with a slit lamp machine at Downtown Vision Care in Calgary

We want everyone to know just how important regular eye exams are for people of all ages. We recommend annual eye exams for school-age children, those with diabetes, those who wear contact lenses, and adults over 65. Adults between the ages of 20 and 64 may only need an exam every 2 years, but that […]

Read More…

instagram facebook facebook2 pinterest twitter google-plus google linkedin2 yelp youtube phone location calendar share2 link star-full star star-half chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up envelope fax