two young children blowing dandelions seeds with the caption Pink Eye or Allergies for eye allergies

Avoid Eye Infections This Spring: Tips for Allergy Sufferers

by ArticlesBlog

The trees are blooming, the grass is turning green, and spring is in the air — literally. While warmer weather and outdoor time can lift your spirits, they can also bring an unwelcome guest: seasonal allergies.

Have your eyes started watering? Is your nose feeling stuffy? If so, you’re not alone. As flowers bloom and pollen levels rise, it’s important to know how to manage allergy symptoms and prevent complications — including eye infections like pink eye.

Allergy Season Is Here — Start Preparing Now

If you typically suffer through spring, now is the time to act. Experts recommend starting allergy medications before symptoms hit. This can reduce your reaction and help you stay ahead of the pollen.

Common allergy symptoms include:

  • Itchy, red, or watery eyes
  • Clear nasal discharge
  • Sneezing
  • Scratchy throat or ears

Unlike viruses that develop gradually, allergy symptoms often come on suddenly — especially on high-pollen days. Try to limit time outdoors when pollen counts are high, keep windows closed, and use air conditioning when possible. And skip hanging laundry outside — pollen can cling to fabrics.

Eye Allergies & Pink Eye: What’s the Connection?

Among the eye-related issues triggered during allergy season, conjunctivitis (commonly called pink eye) is one of the most common. It refers to inflammation of the thin, clear tissue covering the white of the eye and inside the eyelids.

While the tissue is clear, it contains small blood vessels. When irritated or infected, these vessels enlarge, giving the eye a red or pink appearance.

3 Types of Pink Eye

Allergic Conjunctivitis

  • Triggered by allergens like pollen, dust, or pet dander.
  • Not contagious.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

  • Caused by bacteria entering the eye.
  • Can lead to serious complications if untreated.

Viral Conjunctivitis

  • Caused by viruses similar to the common cold.
  • Highly contagious but typically clears on its own.

Treatment Options

Allergic Pink Eye:

  • Treated with antihistamines or allergy eye drops.
  • Best prevented by starting allergy medications before symptoms begin.

Bacterial Pink Eye:

  • Requires a visit to your optometrist for prescription antibiotic eye drops.
  • Prompt treatment helps prevent complications and spread.

Viral Pink Eye:

  • Usually resolves on its own in a few days.
  • Apply cool compresses to relieve discomfort — but don’t share them with others, as this form is very contagious.

Prevention Tips

Good hygiene can be the key to not sharing Pink Eye with family members. Stay healthy and reduce your risk of eye infections with these simple precautions:

  • Don’t share towels, washcloths, tissues, or eye drops.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes — especially after coughing or sneezing.
  • Never share contact lenses or contact lens cases.
  • Remove contacts before swimming, hot tubs, or even showering.
  • Wash your hands frequently, especially in schools, daycares, and other public places.

If you have seasonal allergies, talk with your doctor about prevention strategies. If you’re experiencing red, itchy, or irritated eyes — especially if accompanied by discharge or blurred vision — don’t wait it out. Let the doctors at Bissell Eye Care help you get relief and avoid potential complications.

About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.

Happy face kid smile.Close up portrait joy child outdoors. Little boy playful smiling holding dandelions on eyes as eyeglasses. Joyful childhood, summer day. Background green grass

Mild Winter Brings Early Allergy Season And Eye Infections

by ArticlesBlog

The mild winter and early spring in Pittsburgh have been one for the record books. While this might sound like a welcome change for many, it’s also resulted in an early high allergy season and an uptick in cases of conjunctivitis, or pink eye.

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including viruses, bacteria, allergens, and irritants.

Are you experiencing these symptoms?

  • Redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid
  • Itchy eyes
  • Swelling of the eyelid
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased amount of tears

The three most common types of conjunctivitis are:

  • Viral Conjunctivitis: is caused by a virus, typically the same virus that is a result of having a common cold. It’s highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include redness, itching, tearing, and discharge from the eyes. There is no specific treatment for viral conjunctivitis, but symptoms can be managed with artificial tears, cold compresses, and over-the-counter medications for pain relief.
  • Bacterial Conjunctivitis: is caused by bacteria and can be either acute or chronic. It’s also highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include redness, itching, tearing, and discharge from the eyes, often accompanied by crusting or stickiness. Unlike viral conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Did you know the bacteria that causes pink eye is the same bacteria that cause strep throat? Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are easily spread from person to person.
  • Allergic Conjunctivitis: is caused by an allergic reaction to an irritant, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. It’s not contagious and typically affects both eyes. Symptoms include redness, itching, tearing, and swelling of the eyelids. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines, decongestants, and topical corticosteroids.

In addition to these three main types of conjunctivitis, there are also other types that are less common but can still cause significant discomfort and irritation.

These include:

  • Chemical Conjunctivitis: is caused by exposure to irritants such as smoke, fumes, or chemicals. Symptoms include redness, tearing, and a feeling of burning or stinging in the eyes.
  • Neonatal Conjunctivitis: affects newborn babies and is typically caused by a bacterial infection acquired during delivery. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and discharge from the eyes. It can be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment.
  • Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis: is a chronic condition that typically affects contact lens wearers or people with artificial eyes. It’s caused by the buildup of protein deposits on the surface of the eye and can result in redness, itching, tearing, and discomfort when wearing contact lenses.

If you are experiencing eye irritation symptoms, take steps to avoid rubbing or touching your eyes, practice good hygiene, and avoid potential irritants.  These actions can help minimize symptoms and promote healing.

Overall, conjunctivitis can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition to deal with, but it can be effectively managed with proper treatment and care. If you’re experiencing symptoms of conjunctivitis, it’s important to contact the doctors at Bissell Eye Care at 724-443-6767 or 724-226-0444 for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

 About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening and Saturday appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more Information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.

Watery eyes

Oh, My Watery Eyes!

by ArticlesBlog

Look no further than the oak trees outside your home or office and you’ll know what time of year is coming our way. Pollen has already started to accumulate, leading to a noticeable uptick in sniffs and sneezes. More than 20 million Americans are bracing for the annual allergy miseries: stuffy nose, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and itchy, runny eyes that may last for weeks or even months as grass, trees and weeds roar back to life.

The spring rain and warm weather have created the perfect storm for a stellar allergy season. You look outside and everything is covered in a yellow film causing itchy, red, or even burning sensations in your eyes. Allergy suffers, you aren’t alone in your symptoms.

Allergies occur when your body becomes overly sensitive to something in the environment that typically causes no problems for most people. An allergic reaction may occur when that “something” that you are allergic to comes into contact with your eyes. In many cases, the “something” you are allergic to is airborne, such as pollen.

Because the symptoms of seasonal allergy can resemble those of dry eye disease, diagnosis can be a challenge. Although patients may have only seasonal allergies or only dry eye disease, there is a good possibility that both conditions are present.

Be nice to your eyes. When avoidance is not an option, there are still steps that you can take to reduce the allergen’s impact and increase eye comfort. Here are some relief and tips for prevention to avoid or limit exposure with your trigger(s).

There are many different medications that have proven to be effective in fighting allergies. If you cannot find a medication that helps you in combating the symptoms, it may be time to consult the eye doctors at Bissell Eye Care, as some eye diseases carry similar symptoms as allergies and will not improve with allergy treatment.

Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis, or SAC, is one of the most common types of eye allergy. Depending on the type of pollen that is in the air, people who suffer from SAC experience symptoms spring, summer or fall. Some of the most common symptoms are:

  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Burning
  • Clear watery discharge

People who have SAC may also notice dark circles under their eyes. These symptoms are often accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, or nasal congestion.

Curtail the contacts. Contact lens wearers tend to be disproportionately affected by allergies. Even if a patient is a successful contact lens wearer for most of the year, allergy season can make them quite uncomfortable, particularly when contacts are worn for extended periods of time.

For any contact lens wearers, you may want to remove your contacts and opt for your eyeglasses until your allergy symptoms are gone. This is because the surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens. If wearing your glasses is not an option, you can switch to daily disposable contacts to avoid allergen and other debris buildups.

There are also methods to combat your allergies that do not require medication.

  • Stay indoors at times when pollen counts are high.
  • Keep windows closed and use air-conditioning as much as possible.
  • Avoid using fans in windows as this tends to pull pollen into the house.
  • Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to reduce the chances of getting pollen in your eyes.
  • Avoid rubbing your eyes when they feel itchy or watery.

Be sure to consult the doctors at Bissell Eye Care if you are using over-the-counter medications such as eye drops. Prolonged use of some eye drops may actually cause your condition to worsen and cause damage to your eyes. The proper treatment and avoiding pollen when it is at its highest will help to reduce your symptoms this allergy season. While spring allergies have been around for decades it’s important to stay ahead of your symptoms.

About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD owns and operates Bissell Eye Care servicing Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. With two locations to treat patients, we offer evening and Saturday appointments. Bissell Eye Care provides comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family beginning as early as 6 months, ocular disease detection and treatment, eyeglasses, sunglasses, activewear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. We accept most types of vision and health insurance plans. For more information, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown Office at 724-443-6767 or Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.

Buds, Blooms and Allergies

Buds, Blooms and Allergies

by Blog

Trees are blooming and the green is popping out on the hillside. Have your eyes started to water? Do you feel your nose starting to get stuffed up again? It’s that time of the year, the time when the weather gets warmer, you want to get outside and all the plants and trees start to bloom. As spring approaches learn how to help prevent symptoms and avoid eye infections.

If you typically suffer through the flowering of spring, experts say you should be taking precautions now to stay healthy and start taking an allergy medication that has controlled those symptoms in the past. Know the signs of allergy symptoms that include itchy eyes, red eyes, clear nasal discharge, and a scratchy feeling in your ears or throat. Unlike a virus that comes on gradually, allergy symptoms tend to hit quickly.

Pollen can serve as a major trigger for allergy sufferers. When pollen counts are high try and limit your exposure to the outdoors, don’t hang laundry outside, utilize air conditioning, and allergy medication can help to relieve symptoms.

Among eye infections associated with allergies, pink eye is one the most common. Pink eye is inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. While this part of the eye is clear it contains small blood vessels. When an infection occurs these blood vessels dilate, giving the eye the red color. It is more frequently experienced with people who are close to others such as students, school workers, daycare workers and medical professionals.

Types of Pink Eye

  • Allergic: This form of pink eye may be associated with pollen but can also be flared up by dust or pet dander
  • Bacterial: Bacterial pink eye is caused by bacteria entering the eye. It can cause serious damage to the eye if left untreated.
  • Viral: Caused by a virus similar to the common cold. This is the most contagious form but will usually clear up on its own in a few days without medical treatment.

Treatments

  • Allergic: Allergy medications can often help to prevent or shorten the duration of the infection. It is a common practice to start the medication before allergy season or known flare-ups.
  • Bacterial: An optometrist appointment is necessary and they will prescribe eye drops.
  • Viral: This form will run its course over several days requiring no medical treatment. Using a cold wet compress will help relieve some of the symptoms do not share this compress as the viral form is the most contagious.

As we approach spring and allergy season follow these tips to help prevent eye infections.

Prevention

  • Avoid sharing items such as washcloths, tissues, or towels.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes after covering your mouth to cough or sneeze.
  • Never share contact lenses with anyone.
  • If you experience seasonal allergies consult your doctor on how to minimize symptoms.
  • Remove contacts before using a hot tub, being in the water, and even showering.
  • Wash hands frequently, especially in areas of high public traffic (schools, daycares, public places).

If you do experience an infection don’t hesitate to contact the doctors at Bissell Eye Care to confirm if you will need medication to help combat the infection and prevent future eye damage.

SPRING ALLERGIES AND PINK EYE

by ArticlesBlog

With the warm weather finally arriving, we’re beginning to see signs of spring. Have your eyes started to water? Are your eyes red? Do you feel your nose starting to get stuffed up again? It’s that time of the year, the time when the weather gets warmer, you want to get outside, and all the plants and trees start to bloom. As spring approaches, learn how to help prevent symptoms and avoid eye infections.

Among eye infections associated with allergies, pink eye is one the most common. Pink eye is an inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. While this part of the eye is clear it contains small blood vessels. When an infection occurs, these blood vessels dilate, giving the eye the red color. It is more frequently experienced with people who are in close proximity to others such as students, school workers, daycare workers and medical professionals.

Types of Pink Eye

  • Allergic: This form of pink eye may be associated with pollen but can also be flared up by dust or pet dander
  • Bacterial: Bacterial pink eye is caused by bacteria entering the eye. It can cause serious damage to the eye if left untreated.
  • Viral: Caused by a virus similar to the common cold. This is the most contagious form but will usually clear up on its own in a few days without medical treatment.

Treatments

  • Allergic: Allergy medications can often help to prevent or shorten the duration of the infection. It is a common practice to start the medication prior to allergy season or known flare ups.
  • Bacterial: An optometrist appointment is necessary and they will prescribe eye drops.
  • Viral: This form will run its course over several days requiring no medical treatment. Using a cold wet compress will help relieve some of the symptoms. Do not share this compress as the viral form is the most contagious.

As we approach spring and allergy season, follow these tips to help prevent eye infections.

Prevention

  • Avoid sharing items such as washcloths, tissues, or towels.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes after covering your mouth to cough or sneeze.
  • Never share contact lenses with anyone.
  • If you experience seasonal allergies consult your doctor on how to minimize symptoms.
  • Remove contacts before using a hot tub, being in water, and even showering.
  • Wash hands frequently, especially in areas of high public traffic (schools, daycares, public places).

If you do experience an infection don’t hesitate to contact the doctors at Bissell Eye Care to confirm if you will need medication to help combat the infection and prevent future eye damage.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

Watery eyes

ALLERGY SEASON IS IN FULL FORCE!

by ArticlesBlog

Watery eyesIt was a long hard winter, but the cold winter months have passed and we are in the midst of a stellar allergy season. You look outside and everything is covered in a yellow film causing itchy, red, or even burning sensations in your eyes. Allergy suffers, you aren’t alone in your symptoms. Did you know that the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates that 50 million people in the United States have seasonal allergies? This affects approximately 30% of adults and 40% of children.

Because the symptoms of seasonal allergy can resemble those of dry eye disease, diagnosis can be a challenge. Although patients may have only seasonal allergies or only dry eye disease, there is a good possibility that both conditions are present.

Be nice to your eyes. When avoidance is not an option, there are still steps that you can take to reduce the allergen’s impact and increase eye comfort. Here are some relief and tips for prevention to avoid or limit exposure with your trigger(s).

Outdoor Tips for Allergy Season

  • How do I know what the pollen count is you may ask? The weather channel for Pittsburgh provides an allergy tracker.
  • Avoid going outside and close windows when pollen count is high.
  • Use A/C and air filters/purifiers and be sure to change them regularly and perhaps more often during peak allergy season.
  • Wear sunglasses or glasses when outside to keep the pollen out of your eyes

Indoor Tips for Allergy Season

To minimize dust mites:

  • Use special pillow covers to keep allergens out
  • Wash bedding frequently in hot water
  • Consider replacing old mattresses
  • Clean floors with a damp mop
  • Replace carpeting with hardwood for an easier clean

Curtail the contacts. Contact lens wearers tend to be disproportionately affected by allergy. Even if a patient is a successful contact lens wearer for most of the year, allergy season can make them quite uncomfortable, particularly when contacts are worn for extended periods of time.

For any contact lens wearers, you may want to remove your contacts and opt for your eyeglasses until your allergy symptoms are gone. This is because the surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens. If wearing your glasses is not an option, you can switch to daily disposable contacts to avoid allergen and other debris buildup.

A last bit of advice: Avoid rubbing your eyes, it will only irritate your eyes more! Dry eye patients, regardless of other treatment they may be on, should use consider the artificial tears and lubricants as a protective measure to reduce discomfort.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

SPRINGTIME ALLERGIES!

by ArticlesBlog
Happy face kid smile.Close up portrait joy child outdoors. Little boy playful smiling holding dandelions on eyes as eyeglasses. Joyful childhood, summer day. Background green grass

Allergies occur when your body becomes overly sensitive to something in the environment that typically causes no problems for most people. An allergic reaction may occur when that “something” that you are allergic to comes into contact with your eyes. In many cases, the “something” you are allergic to is airborne, such as pollen.

There are many different medications that have proven to be effective in fighting allergies, whether its spring, summer or fall allergies. If you cannot find a medication that helps you in combating the symptoms, it may be time to consult your eye doctor, as some eye diseases carry similar symptoms as allergies and will not improve with allergy treatment.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, or SAC, is one of the most common types of eye allergy. Depending on the type of pollen that is in the air, people who suffer from SAC experience symptoms in spring, summer or fall.

Some of the most common symptoms are:

  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Burning
  • Clear watery discharge

People who have SAC may also notice dark circles under the eyes. These symptoms are often accompanied with a runny nose, sneezing, or nasal congestion.

As we stated earlier, there are several different types of medication that you can use to combat the symptoms of SAC.

There are also methods to combat your allergies that do not require medication.

  • Stay indoors at times when pollen counts are high.
  • Keep windows closed and use air-conditioning as much as possible.
  • Avoid using fans in windows as this tends to pull pollen into the house.
  • Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to reduce the chances of getting pollen in your eyes.
  • Avoid rubbing your eyes when they feel itchy or watery.

Be sure to consult your eye doctor if you are using over the counter medications such as eye drops. Prolonged use of some eye drops may actually cause your condition to worsen and cause damage to your eyes. The proper treatment and avoiding pollen when it is at its highest will help to reduce your symptoms this allergy season.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

ALLERGIES AND EYE INFECTIONS

by ArticlesBlog

Have your eyes started to water? Do you feel your nose starting to get stuffed up again? It’s that time of the year, the time when the weather gets warmer, you want to get outside and all the plants and trees start to bloom. As spring approaches learn how to help prevent symptoms and avoid eye infections.

Among eye infections associated with allergies, pink eye is one the most common. Pink eye is inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. While this part of the eye is clear it contains small blood vessels. When an infection occurs these blood vessels dilate, giving the eye the red color. It is more frequently experienced with people who are in close proximity to others such as students, school workers, daycare workers and medical professionals.

Types of Pink Eye

  • Allergic: This form of pink eye may be associated with pollen but can also be flared up by dust or pet dander
  • Bacterial: Bacterial pink eye is caused by bacteria entering the eye. It can cause serious damage to the eye if left untreated.
  • Viral: Caused by a virus similar to the common cold. This is the most contagious form but will usually clear up on its own in a few days without medical treatment.

Treatments

  • Allergic: Allergy medications can often help to prevent or shorten the duration of the infection. It is a common practice to start the medication prior to allergy season or known flare ups.
  • Bacterial: An optometrist appointment is necessary and they will prescribe eye drops.
  • Viral: This form will run its course over several days requiring no medical treatment. Using a cold wet compress will help relieve some of the symptoms do not to share this compress as the viral form is the most contagious.

As we approach spring and allergy season follow these tips to help prevent eye infections.

Prevention

  • Avoid sharing items such as washcloths, tissues, or towels.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes after covering your mouth to cough or sneeze.
  • Never share contact lenses with anyone.
  • If you experience seasonal allergies consult your doctor on how to minimize symptoms.
  • Remove contacts before using a hot tub, being in water, and even showering.
  • Wash hands frequently, especially in areas of high public traffic (schools, daycares, public places).

If you do experience an infection don’t hesitate to contact the doctors at Bissell Eye Care to confirm if you will need medication to help combat the infection and prevent future eye damage.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.