I am experiencing illness with severe ocular symptoms, and I need my Pataday (olopatadine)

From the Guidelines

I strongly recommend using Pataday (olopatadine) eye drops as directed on the package for your eye symptoms, as it is a dual-action agent with both antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer activities, providing quick relief for allergic conjunctivitis symptoms 1. To use Pataday effectively, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before application
• Tilt your head back and pull down your lower eyelid to form a pocket
• Place one drop in this pocket without touching the tip to your eye
• Close your eyes for 1-2 minutes after application to allow proper absorption Pataday is suitable for acute and longer-term treatment of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms, with an onset of action within 30 minutes 1. Key benefits of Pataday include:
• Relief of allergy-related eye symptoms like itching, redness, and watery discharge
• Dual-action mechanism as an antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer
• Quick onset of action within 30 minutes If your symptoms don't improve within 72 hours or if you experience vision changes, increased redness, or pain, contact your healthcare provider as these could indicate a more serious condition requiring different treatment 1.

From the Research

Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis

• Itching, redness, chemosis, tearing, and swelling of the eyelids are common symptoms of ocular allergies 2
• Burning and tearing can also be associated with allergic conjunctivitis 3, 4

Treatment Options

• Olopatadine 0.1% (Pataday) and ketotifen 0.025% are two available options for treating ocular allergy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Patient preference for an eye drop can be a primary factor in determining compliance and satisfaction with therapy 2

Efficacy of Olopatadine and Ketotifen

• Olopatadine has been shown to be more effective than ketotifen in improving itching, tearing, and burning in allergic conjunctivitis patients 3, 5
• Ketotifen has been associated with a higher responder rate and better global efficacy ratings in some studies 6
• Both olopatadine and ketotifen can reduce the expression of cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers in conjunctival surface cells 4

Comfort and Safety

• Both olopatadine and ketotifen have been found to be comfortable and well-tolerated, with minimal adverse events reported 2, 4, 6
• The most common adverse events associated with these medications are burning/stinging and headache 6