SPOTLIGHT ON TECHNOLOGY & TECHNIQUE

Ocular allergy test gets to the root of surface irritation

Doctor’s Allergy test aims to identify specific allergens behind dry, itchy eyes.

By Bill Kekevian, Senior Associate Editor

With a host of new diagnostic and treatment techniques, ophthalmologists are witnessing a revolution of sorts in ocular surface disease and therapeutics. Jai G. Parekh, MD, dismisses the idea of only implementing a dry eye focus for the ocular surface. “We actually have a center of excellence for the whole ocular surface,” he says. “That includes dry eye, but also blepharitis, allergy, contact lens over-wear syndrome and other surface disorders.”

To that end, Dr. Parekh, of Brar-Parekh Eye Associates in northern New Jersey and clinical associate professor at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, has implemented a new diagnostic test for ocular allergy called Doctor’s Allergy Formula, by the company of the same name (www.drsallergyformula.com, Norcross, Ga.). The test “mitigates the confusion around the patient’s allergies,” he says. He quickly likes to rule-out whether a patient’s “itchy red eye” is due to ocular allergies or some other disorder of the ocular surface.

The testing apparatus uses this device to sample the tissue and gauge a reaction.

PERFORMING THE TEST

“The calling card of ocular allergy is itchy eyes,” says Dr. Parekh. “If a patient has itchy, dry irritated eyes that don’t respond to initial courses of therapy, that’s a suspect for allergies and that’s when I’ll do the test,” he says.

Doctor’s Allergy Formula is designed to test for the most prevalent ocular-specific allergens. The test itself uses skin surface, not intradermal, testing. The one-minute implementation elicits an immunological response from the body. The test can identify 60 of the most common local environmental allergens that may be causing the allergic responses in a patient’s eye.

“It doesn’t penetrate,” Dr. Parekh says. “The patient comfort factor is terrific. It’s non-invasive and it gives you so much information.” Some common positive results include allergies to pet dander, cockroaches, dust mites, mold, certain tree spores and fungi.

INTERPRETING THE RESULTS

Once the clinician performs the test, it takes 18 minutes to yield a result. The ophthalmologist can then discuss a regimen with the patient. Based on the findings, Dr. Parekh discusses possible medical regimens or behavioral and environmental modifications patients can make.

“For patient’s who have never seen an allergist, or their primary care physician has not addressed their allergies, we talk about symptoms of ocular surface irritation,” Dr. Parekh says.

PRACTICE IMPLEMENTATION

“My two technicians have been certified in ocular allergy testing and they are the ones who perform the test,” says Dr. Parekh. “It has to be doctor-monitored, so I’m on the premises at all times.”

Doctors using the test should counsel their patients to stop using antihistamines or any other medications before testing, because they may alter the findings, he says. OM