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Conjunctivitis - allergic - Management
What drug treatments should I prescribe for a person with seasonal or perennial conjunctivitis?

  • Before treating a person with seasonal or perennial allergic conjunctivitis, you must exclude the serious causes of a red eye that can result in permanent visual impairment. For further information, see Diagnosing allergic conjunctivitis.
    • When rapid relief of symptoms is required, prescribe an oral or topical ocular antihistamine, depending on the person's preference and previous response to treatment.
    • When prolonged control of symptoms is required, prescribe an oral antihistamine, topical ocular antihistamine, or a topical ocular mast cell stabilizer, depending on the person's preference and previous response to treatment.
    • When a topical ocular mast cell stabilizer is prescribed long term, also prescribe an oral antihistamine, or a topical ocular antihistamine if:
      • Symptom control is needed in the first few weeks while waiting for the mast cell stabilizer to take effect.
      • Breakthrough symptoms occur.
    • When symptoms persist despite treatment with an antihistamine and a mast cell stabilizer:
      • Reassess the diagnosis.
      • Consider prescribing a different antihistamine or mast cell stabilizer.
      • Refer for specialist assessment, depending on clinical judgement.
    • When symptoms are severe and there is no doubt about the diagnosis, consider prescribing a 3–5 day course of an oral corticosteroid for rapid control of symptoms. Refer to an immunologist if oral corticosteroids are required more than very occasionally.

In depth

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