My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Allergies
Allergic Conjunctivitis [Read/Print full article]
Overview
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The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers your eyeball and the inside of your eyelids. Conjunctivitis or "pink eye" occurs when something irritates this membrane. Irritation may cause your eyes to become red, inflamed, swollen, watery and itchy. The cause of the conjunctivitis may be infectious, but this article focuses on allergic conjunctivitis. Although allergic conjunctivitis is uncomfortable it does not hurt your eyesight and is not contagious.
An allergic reaction occurs when your body's immune system reacts to a foreign substance - an allergen - such as pollen or dust. In response to the allergen, your body releases a chemical called histamine that causes symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing.
Additional References:
- External Link to Conjunctivitis Video - eyecareAmerica
Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis
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Some common allergens that can cause conjunctivitis include:
- Pollen from trees, grass and ragweed
- Animal skin and secretions such as saliva and pet dander
- Perfumes and cosmetics
- Skin medicines
- Air pollution
- Dust and mold
- Smoke
Symptoms may include some, or all, of the following:
- Itching - this symptom is most commonly associated with allergic conjunctivitis
- Watering
- Redness
- Pain/discomfort
- Feeling that something is in the eye
- Discharge
We will evaluate your eyes to verify that your symptoms are caused by allergies and not by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing the cause of the irritation will enable us to treat your eyes effectively.
Prevention
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- Try to identify and avoid the allergens that cause your symptoms.
- Stay indoors when pollen and mold levels are high if you are allergic to pollen or mold. You can usually find out when allergen levels are high from weather reports.
- Keep your doors and windows closed, and use an air conditioner during the summer months.
- If your symptoms started right after you began using a new product, like a new moisturizer, detergent, or contact lens cleaning solution stop using it for a few days to see if your symptoms go away.
If you cannot easily identify an allergy, talk to us. We may recommend allergy testing to pinpoint exactly what is causing your symptoms.
Treatments
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A number of treatment options are available to relieve the symptoms and suppress the allergic response.
Relieving the symptoms:
- Apply cold compresses using a cold washcloth.
- Use preservative-free artificial tears. These are best used cold straight out of the refrigerator. You can use them several times a day to reduce the irritation.
- Minimize exposure to potential allergens.
- Do not rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes causes more inflammation and will make your symptoms worse.
- Don't wear contact lenses while you have allergic conjunctivitis because they will probably exacerbate your symptoms and you might get an eye infection. Wear your glasses until your eyes feel better.
Eye drops
We may recommend that you use antihistamine eye drops to suppress the allergic response. These drops can help relieve itchy, watery eyes and may keep symptoms from returning. Most eye drops are available over the counter.
- Ketotifen fumarate drops seem to be the most effective for symptom relief. You can use them 2-3 times a day and continue for a long period of time if needed.
- Drops such as naphazoline and pheniramine are less effective, but can reduce redness if used for short periods. You should not use these drops for more than 5 days at a time. If you use them regularly for long periods, they stop working and can actually make your eyes feel worse.
- We may need to prescribe other eye drops if your symptoms persist.
Lifestyle Changes and Management
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Home treatment
- Don't touch or rub the eye.
- Use lubricating eye drops or artificial tears to make your eyes feel better.
- Use artificial tears up to 4-6 times a day.
- Try chilling the artificial tears in the refrigerator for an additional soothing effect.
- Wash your hands before using drops.
- Place a cold washcloth over your eyes to reduce the irritation.
Contact lenses
- Don't wear contact lenses while you have allergic conjunctivitis because they will probably make your symptoms worse and you might get an eye infection.
- Wear your glasses until your eyes feel better.
Allergy medications available without a prescription
- Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine and non-drowsy loratadine provide relief from sneezing, runny nose and itching.
- Decongestants like pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine provide relief from stuffy nose and ears.
- Saline nasal sprays help to remove crusts, dry mucous and inhaled particles from your nose.
- Sinus rinse kits can be helpful for thick nasal mucus accumulation.
- If your allergies are not controlled with over the counter medications, ask us about a prescription for an anti-inflammatory nasal spray.
Prescription nasal sprays
- Prescription anti-inflammatory nasal sprays such as flunisolide or fluticason are the most effective group of medications for chronic treatment of allergy symptoms.
- These medications can decrease the inflammation of the lining in your nose and relieve sneezing, itchy nose and congestion.
- Other advantages are that they provide non-drowsy relief and have minimal side effects.
- Nasal sprays do not work immediately and may take a few days to make a noticeable difference.
How to use prescription nasal sprays:
- Tilt your head forward and point the spray away from the septum (the wall between the nostrils) to minimize side effects when using nasal sprays.
- Use your right hand when spraying the left nostril and your left hand for the right nostril.
- Alternate sides if you use more than one spray per nostril.
- Wait at least 15 minutes before using the prescription nasal spray if you also use a saline spray or sinus rinse. This will allow the saline to completely drain.
Your Care with Me
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If you have seasonal allergies or another type of allergy that affects your eyes, talk to your personal physician or allergy specialist about managing your symptoms. If your eyes are still bothering you, your optometrist or personal physician can facilitate the process of scheduling an appointment in my department. If appropriate, she or he might call me or one of my colleagues while you are in the office so we can all discuss your care together. If we decide you need an appointment with me after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.
During your office visit, we will discuss your medical and family history and I will perform a physical exam. I will explain the findings of your exam and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We will discuss treatment options, such as prescription eyedrops and lifestyle changes, to help you to avoid or alleviate things that may trigger your symptoms. Together we will create a treatment plan that is right for you.
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If you need to talk with me after your visit or procedure, please call my office. You can also e-mail me with nonurgent issues from this website whenever it is convenient for you.
If you have urgent concerns or issues while my office is closed, or need general medical advice, you can call the Appointment and Advice line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be connected with a nurse who can give you immediate advice.
If you are experiencing a serious problem or an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room when the clinic is not open.
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Coordinating Your Care
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Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.
Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system, which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay connected on your health status and collaborate with each other as appropriate.
When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.
If you come to an office visit
- At the beginning of your visit, you will receive information about when you are due for your next test, screening, or immunization. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need.
- At the end of your visit, you may receive a document called the "After Visit Summary" that will summarize the issues we discussed during your visit. You can refer to it if you forget what we discussed or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view it online under Past Visits.
- To help you prepare for your visit, please see additional details under Office Visit.
If I prescribe medications
We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments over time. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you, and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.
If refills are needed in the future, you can:- Order them online or by phone. Order future refills from my home page or by phone using the pharmacy refill number on your prescription label.
- Have them delivered to you by mail at no extra cost. Or you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy. If no refills remain when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me regarding your prescription.
If lab testing or imaging is needed
For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures, we will schedule an appointment with the Radiology department. When the results are ready, I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.
If I refer you to another specialty colleague
If we decide together that your condition would also benefit from the care of other types of specialists, our staff will help arrange the appointment(s) with one or more of my specialty colleagues.
If surgery or a procedure is a treatment option
I will recommend you review educational information and tools to help you prepare for your procedure or surgery. The information will often help you decide whether surgery is right for you. If you decide to have a surgery or procedure, the information will provide details about how to prepare and what to expect.
If we proceed with surgery, I will have my Surgery Scheduler contact you to determine a surgery date and provide you with additional instructions regarding your procedure. Once your surgery is scheduled, a medical colleague of mine will contact you to conduct a preoperative medical evaluation that will assure that you are properly prepared for your surgery.
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Convenient Resources for You
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As your specialist, I have a goal to provide high-quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.
My Doctor Online is available at any time that is most convenient for you. From my home page you can:
Manage your care securely
- View and compose secure e-mail messages.
- Manage your prescriptions.
- View your past visits and test results.
- View your preventive services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
Learn more about your condition
- Read about causes, symptoms, treatments and procedures.
- Find interactive health tools, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your condition.
- View programs to help you decide on or prepare for a surgery or procedure.
Stay healthy
- Locate health education classes and support groups offered at every medical center.
- Explore interactive programs, videos, and podcasts that focus on helping you stay healthy.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
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Related Health Tools:
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.