ALLERGY TESTING
WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?
An allergy is when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, called an allergen. It could be something you eat, inhale, inject or touch such as; trees, grass, dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. Our eyes are particularly sensitive to airborne allergens, which during an allergic reaction cause irritation and discomfort. This reaction could cause one to cough, sneeze, have itchy eyes, a runny nose and even a scratchy throat. In severe cases, it can even cause rashes, hives, low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, asthma attacks and death.
FIRST IN THE NATION
Dr. Segal was the first ophthalmologist in the country to be approved to use an allergy skin test to treat ocular allergies.
This simple skin test will determine exactly what you are allergic to, is typically covered by insurance with the results produced and can be read within 15 minutes. Once Dr. Segal identifies what you are allergic to we can treat with medication or, retrain your body to ignore the allergen. Most patients have heard of allergy shots to treat allergies, but now we can do this with self administered sublingual drops placed under the tongue in the comfort of your home. The drops avoid painful shots entirely and the sublingual drops are more convenient for patients to administer.
Using the drops may actually cure the allergy, rather than suppressing the allergy with medication. Being able to identify and treat your specific allergy allows a customized pinpointed precision treatment far more effective than the old treatments of the past.
THE EYES ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE
The eyes are particularly sensitive to airborne allergies, which cause irritation and discomfort.
It is estimated that approximately 50 Million people suffer from eye allergies. From children to teens with many people suffering for years before being tested.
Our immune system keeps us alive by attacking dangerous germs. An allergy occurs when our immune system attacks a harmless substance, like pollen (an allergen), something it should ignore. This attack releases chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. Medication, like antihistamines, mask the symptoms but do not identify the underlying problem.
Allergies are extremely common, affecting more than 50 million Americans. In addition, approximately 40% of adults or 24 million people have reported some form of eye allergies. Our in-office testing is FDA approved, and is region specific.
Once the allergens have been identified, Dr. Segal can recommend a customized treatment plan that can improve your symptoms and quality of life.