Eye Allergies: What You Need to Know for Itchy Eye Relief

Depending on the season, people who have eye allergies contend with common – albeit irritating – symptoms, such as itchy, red, watery eyes.

If you’re looking for itchy eye relief or want to understand the difference between dry eyes and eye allergies, read on to learn about causes, symptoms, and eye allergy treatment, including prescription allergy eye drops.

What are eye allergies?

Also referred to as allergic conjunctivitis or ocular allergies, eye allergies are extremely common, with seasonal allergies affecting an estimated 50 million Americans each year, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Eye allergies are reactions to allergens – typically harmless airborne substances that the body deems harmful.

Eye allergies develop when the immune system reacts negatively to an allergen and produces antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to fight the adverse substance. When these antibodies reach cells and signal the release of chemicals called histamines, the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, swollen, and itchy – resulting in an allergic reaction around the eyes.

A positive fact about eye allergies is they cannot be spread from person-to-person.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

Typical eye allergy symptoms include:

• Red coloring in and around the eyes
• Swollen eyes
• Itchy, burning, tearing sensations in and around the eyes
• Sensitivity to light

To make conditions worse, eyes allergies are usually accompanied by nasal allergies, such as sneezing, an itchy, stuffy nose, and headaches, coughing, and sore throats.

Causes of Eye Allergies

Eye allergies are usually triggered by seemingly harmless airborne substances called allergens. Common allergens that spark eye allergy symptoms can be found both indoor and outdoor and include:

• Mold
• Dust
• Pet dander
• Smoke
• Pollen from trees, grass, and ragweed

What’s the difference between dry eyes syndrome and eye allergies?

Eye allergies and dry eyes can occur simultaneously. There are, however, distinct differences between the two.

• Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eye doesn’t produce enough tears or is not producing the right quality of tears. Since tears are essential for lubrication and nourishment of the eye, both quantity and quality are vital.
  • The most telling signs it’s dry eyes and not eye allergies:
    Gritty or a sandy feeling in the eyes.
• Eye allergies occur when the immune system reacts negatively to an allergen.
  • The most telling signs it’s eye allergies and not dry eyes:
    Itchy eyes.

It’s important to note that over-the-counter oral antihistamines and decongestants can dry out eyes. For this reason, dry eyes and eye allergies are often treated simultaneously.

Eye Allergies and Contact Lenses

The relationship between eye allergies and contact lenses is never harmonious. Allergens have a unique attraction to contact lenses. This is especially true for soft contacts.

Contacts work against allergy sufferers because they tend to keep allergens in the eye and prevent certain medications from being applied effectively.

To keep eyes as happy as possible during allergy season, it’s best to wear glasses, or see an optometrist to discuss additional solutions.

Eye Allergy Treatment

The most natural way to treat eye allergies is to avoid the specific allergens that provoke an allergic reaction and/or swapping contact lenses for glasses. While this is not ideal or realistic most of the time, there are other treatment routes that lead to itchy eye relief.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

For eye allergy sufferers with mild symptoms, there are over-the-counter treatments that may prove effective in itchy, red, watery eyes. Your doctor will most likely recommend these homeopathic, natural remedies first:

• Artificial tears/eye drops.
  Eye drops wash allergens away, add moisture to the eye, and can temporarily relieve eye allergies.
• Decongestants.
  There are certain decongestants available without a prescription. Decongestants can reduce eye redness caused by allergies. If the decongestant includes an antihistamine, the treatment can relieve itchiness, too.

Long-term use of this treatment can make symptoms worse, so it’s not recommended to use decongestants for more than two or three days.

Prescription Allergy Eye Drops & Medications

For eye allergy sufferers with more severe symptoms, an eye doctor can prescribe a stronger treatment.

• Decongestants & antihistamines.
  Since the body releases a symptom-causing chemical called histamine as a natural response to allergens, an antihistamine works to block histamine from attaching to cells and bypassing symptoms altogether.

  Decongestants are effective at reducing blood vessel size on the white of the eye, so the redness diminishes.

• Mast-cell stabilizers.
  Mast-cell stabilizers stop mast cells from releasing histamine and other mediators of allergic reactions.
• Corticosteroid eye drops.
  Steroid eye drops can alleviate severe itchiness, redness and swelling caused by allergic reactions.

How an Eye Doctor Can Help Eye Allergy Discomfort

Your eyes are sensitive organs. Before taking any eye drops or medications for eye allergies, it’s best to consult with you optometrist. At the very least, he or she can steer you in the right direction of the best brand or over-the-counter treatment to try.

If you suffer from mild or severe seasonal or indoor allergies, come see the eye experts at I Care Vision to discover the best route for you to achieve eye comfort amidst a world of allergens.