LONDON, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Hay fever sufferers - take action BEFORE the pollen strikes 

If the first sniff of spring brings with it the misery of itchy, watery eyes then you need to act quickly. By taking an eye drops product called CATACROM^®  Sodium Cromoglicate 2% w/v Eye Drops,  BEFORE  the pollen season you may be able to prevent the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis that are common in hay fever such as redness, watering, itching and puffiness.  

CATACROM^® helps prevent allergy symptoms by stabilising the mast cells in the eye, reducing the release of mediators, including histamine, which are the cause of symptoms such as itching, burning, watering and puffiness of the eye.  This mast cell stabilising effect builds up over a period of a few weeks, so that by the time the allergens are in season, the ocular hay fever symptoms will be greatly reduced.

CATACROM^® is an eye drop indicated for the relief and treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis. CATACROM^® is also preservative and phosphate-free which is particularly important for anyone who is prone to allergies, as some preservatives may cause additional irritation to the eyes. The drops can also be used with rigid and gas permeable contact lenses and can also be used for children and infants (under supervision of an adult).

CATACROM^® can be obtained from pharmacists or you can ask your GP to prescribe it. If you are unsure whether or not you have an allergy, always seek medical advice.  Always read the label before use.

What's your allergy?  Use our pollen calendar to identify the possible source of your allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.

MAY 2015

CATACROM^®   PRODUCT INFORMATION 

   
    - Pack Size:         30 x 0.3ml
    - Legal Category:    P

ABOUT ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS 

• Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include itching, burning, watering, redness of the eye and puffiness of the eye lids.
• Seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes at the same time.
• The most important advice for limiting allergic conjunctivitis is to try to keep away from whatever is causing the allergy.
• Keeping doors and windows closed normally helps. A cold compress may also help to relieve sore eyes.
• Anti-allergy eye drops, containing sodium cromoglicate, can help to treat the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
• Use of preservative-free eye drops may be particularly beneficial, as this limits any potential for additional irritation to the eyes caused by preservatives.

REFERENCES 

Jison Hong and Leonard Bielory , Allergy to ophthalmic preservatives. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2009, 9:447-453.doi.org/10.1097/ACI.0b013e3283306990

Liu YL, Hu FR, Wang IJ, Chen WL, Hou YC, A double-masked study to compare the efficacy and safety of topical cromolyn for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. J Formosan Med Assoc. 2011 ;110:690-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2011.09.004.

Kari O and Saari KM, Updates in the treatment of ocular allergies, J Asthma and Allergy. 2010 Nov 22;3:149-58. doi: 10.2147/JAA.S13705.

SOURCE Wallace Health