Bad eye issues possible allergies

My cat has been dealing with eye problems every Fall these past two Autumn seasons. It all started last November when she rubbed her eye and scratched her cornea.

She was treated, but continued to have problems where any amount of rubbing, even just marking me with her face resulted in her eye tearing up and causing her pain like she poked her eye.  In January she scratched her right cornea.

Fortunately in the Spring all her symptoms stopped and her eyes were perfectly normal. Now we are in Fall again and her eyes are worse than last year. Any rubbing not only makes her eye tear but results in a corneal abrasion. She is constantly in her inflatable e-collar. 

She scratched her left eye 3 weeks ago which was treated and healed. She had her e collar off one day and already scratched her right cornea. The vet thinks it could be allergies as the lower lid tissue was very red and inflamed. She doesn't think it is herpes or dry eye. I am giving her l lysine anyway just in case as I know it will cause no harm either way.

The vet gave her an antihistamine called Chlorpheniramine. She has only had two does so far, but I am really hoping to see improvement as she is suffering so badly.

Has anyone ever had a cat or dog that experienced corneal abrasions caused by allergies? Her symptoms started right after the furnace was turned on which makes me think it could be a dust mite allergy.

Just bumping this up for you.  I know we have several cats here who have seasonal allergies, but I don't recall ever hearing about one who has this specific issue with constant corneal abrasions.  Are you seeing an animal opthamologist?

She is seeing her regular vet at the moment. We are going to check for dry eye at the next appt. If there is no improvement under her current vet I will have no choice, but to go to an opthamologist. I am terrified of the cost though. I have heard a specialist appt is $200 just to be seen.

I just wanted to update. Pudden has been on the antihistamines for 2 weeks now. She is doing well and has not had any new corneal abrasions.

The weather has been warmer and the furnace has been low or off all together, so I hope when it gets cold the symptoms won't return. She was tested for dry eye and passed with flying colors.

The antihistamines seem to be doing the trick, but she is very lethargic. She eats and drinks, but doesn't clean herself and sleeps constantly. The vet says it is a side effect of the medication.

Has anyone's cat that reacted with lethargy ever adjust to it and return to normal? I would hate for her to live as a zombie until the spring, but she can't come off the meds until then.

My cat reacts to first furnace use in fall too. I have her on Zyrtec. 5 mg once a day made her very tired...zombie like and very hungry.

I dropped it down to 2.5 mg once a day which was better. Then holding steady now at 1.25 mg....also working very well.

Good luck.

Yes, it simply seems like the dosage is too high.  Have you tried lowering it slightly?