NASAL IRRITATION FROM EYE DROPS

Although nasal irritation from nose drops is a common phenomenon well known to any otolaryngologist, nasal irritation from eye drops is litt le recognized. We describe eight patients who suffered from nasal irri tation, rhinitis, and blocked nose resulting from the use of eye drops . Six had a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis for which they wer e subsequently treated with antihistamines and beclomethasone nasal sp ray. In seven patients, we were able to stop treatment with eye drops, and the symptoms disappeared. We suspect the preservative benzalkoniu m chloride to be the main cause of the nasal irritation. We recommend that any physician dealing with nose problems consider eye drops as a possible etiologic factor.