Dr. Shalu Pal

  • "If you want quality and wonderful service, please go to Dr. Shalu Pal! The patience, care, and true concern that Dr. Pal has for her clients is wonderful. "

    --Seleena J
  • " I was pleasantly surprised by finding a hidden gem within Dr. Pal's office"

    --Naveed
  • "Finally a doctor who is extremely knowledgeable, patient and explains things clearly. She is a wonderful human being who really takes the time to care for your needs. The office has a wonderful atmosphere and the staff are just as helpful as Dr. Pal. "

    --Mikail
  • "I couldn't ask for a better Optometrist. She is a delight to deal with, very patient, helpful and extremely knowledgeable. She was very good with my kids who can be very fussy at times.. And who could ask for a more beautiful location. Highly Recommend! "

    --Natalie M.
  • "My wife and I, highly recommend Dr. Pal. The staff, the service, the merchandise, are all top notch. They really make you feel welcomed. It has been several years since I have been able to see this well !!! You and your staff are the best !!!! "

    --Steve and Maria L.
  • "We barely go to optometrists so when we do, we should look for the best! I am super pleased I chose Dr. Pal\'s office. They were helpful from beginning to end, from booking on the phone to my actual visit. Dr. Pal was very detailed and went in-depth about my eye health. She is very patient and made me feel calm. The optician helped me pick a great pair of glasses, they were genuinely friendly which is a huge bonus."

    --Ahmad S
  • "I have been going to Dr. Pal for several years now. My most recent visit on June 6, 2016 was the best experience there that I have ever had. Firstly, the women on the desk were friendly and efficient - a very good prelude to my examination. Dr. Pal, herself, was, as usual, very thorough and encouraging in her examination. And she puts you at ease before we get into the eyes examination by discussing other things in life. That helps to ease any stress I may have. And they now have a man in the office who does that difficult examination (name of which I do not know!). He is so patient and encouraging and made the exam not so difficult for me this time. After all that, I saw Dr. Pal again before I left and she told me my eyes were good! Even had the news been not so good, I believe that I would be able to handle it because I truly believe that Dr. Pal and her staff would have taken good care of me. I will always go back to Dr. Pal and members of her team because I truly believe"

    --A. Howlett
  • " I have been to a few appointments at Dr. Pal\'s office over the last year for dry eye issues and every time it has been a very positive experience. The 3 receptionists at the front desk are warm and friendly. They are attentive and provide a very high level of customer service. I appreciate that they call me by name and remembered conversations we had at previous visits. I find Dr. Pal to be an excellent practitioner who is very thorough with her exams, has a lovely personality and takes the time to answer any and all questions that may arise. I am happy with the computer glasses I purchased and value the honest opinions I received from the staff when selecting frames. It was refreshing to have multiple opinions on styles and I felt they truly wanted me to walk out with a frame that was best suited to me. I highly recommend Dr. Pal \'s office! As a health care practitioner myself, I think all health care experiences should be this personilzed and friendly!"

    --A. Mclean
Seasonal Allergies: Autumn
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Contents

Seasonal Allergies: Autumn

Itching, Puffy, Watery Eyes


Most of us associate hay fever or season allergies with spring and summer, but for some allergy sufferers, the end of summer signals the start of their seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, just because the lush growth of summer is dying back and turning the green landscape into a fall foliage spectacular is not an indication of the absence of allergens. In fact, the autumn brings its own assortment of allergy triggers.

A survey done in 2002 revealed that 94% of patients with allergies said that their quality of life deteriorated because of them; itching, runny nose and eyes, puffiness, sneezing and redness can all be included in the list of possible symptoms. The two most common causes of fall allergy season are ragweed and mould.


Ragweed

Most ragweed allergy issues are caused by two species, the normal/small ragweed (Ambrosia aratemisfolia) and the giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida). According to the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI), ragweed pollen is released from the middle of August until about the middle of October. While it is most commonly found in the middle and eastern provinces, all areas of Canada have some form of ragweed.

Mould

Residents along the west coast can be happy that they have to deal with much less ragweed pollen than elsewhere, but they have their own problems because of mould. Due to higher levels of precipitation and humidity, there is much more mould growth in these areas. Mould spores peak in the late summer and early fall and are found both indoors and outdoors.

Outdoor moulds can be found in falling leaves, vegetation, rotting wood and soil. Indoor types of mould like the damp areas around laundry machines, refrigerators, shower stalls, trash containers, basements and upholstery. School carpets, which tend to be older, an also be a mould source, because of dampness and earlier flooding. Generally, any area that is moist and dark can support mould growth.

Symptoms

Allergy symptoms include:

  • Itchy eyes
  • Runny nose (rhinitis)
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Dizziness
  • Watery eyes
  • Swelling of eyelid and surrounding tissues
  • Blurred vision
  • Myokymia (eyelid twitching)
  • Redness of the eyes and surrounding tissues
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing

Patients should be aware of these symptoms, especially if they experience any of them spontaneously and/or only during a specific season.


Treatment

Autumn allergies are treated in the same way other ocular allergies are, with ice packs to reduce swelling and redness and antihistamines (either over-the-counter or by prescription) in topical (eyedrops) or oral.

The best treatment for any type of allergy is to avoid the allergens causing it, but this is not always possible if the mould spores are present in school carpeting, for example.

For more effective diagnosis and treatment, it may be recommended that testing be done to determine the exact cause(es), and to rule out other conditions like dry eye syndrome or ocular inflammatory conditions.


Summing Up

Allergy triggers can occur anywhere and everywhere, and in any season. Just because the allergen isn’t as obvious as flowering plants and trees does not mean it isn’t there, or that it can’t cause allergy symptoms.

See your eyecare practitioner if you have any of the symptoms listed above; an accurate diagnosis is necessary for the best and most effective treatment.


 
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