Do you often have itchy, red, or watery eyes? If so, you may have allergic conjunctivitis— eye allergies. This is a common condition that can happen to anyone at any age. It occurs when your immune system fights something that irritates your eyes, like dust, pollen, animal hair, or makeup. 

What Are Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies are a type of inflammation that develops when an allergen, or a substance that causes an allergic reaction, comes into contact with your eyes. To fight the allergen, your immune system creates antibodies, releasing histamines. Histamines cause your ocular blood vessels to swell and leak fluid, resulting in various symptoms.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies 

Eye allergies can be seasonal or perennial, depending on the type of allergen. Seasonal eye allergies usually occur in spring and fall when pollen levels are high. Indoor allergens like dust mites, mold, or animal hair can cause eye allergies that last all year round, known as perennial allergies. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Itching

• Redness

• Burning

• Tearing

• Swelling

• Sensitivity to light

How Do Eye Allergies Affect Your Eyes?

Eye allergies can make you feel miserable and disrupt your daily activities. Your vision can get blurry from too many tears or mucus. You can get an infection if you rub or scratch your eyes. Your eyes can dry out if they do not produce enough or good quality tears. Your cornea can suffer damage if your eyes stay inflamed or scratched for too long.

Eye allergies can worsen conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, or contact lens sensitivity. If your eye allergy symptoms are severe or persistent, please visit an eye doctor.

How to Prevent and Treat Eye Allergies

Limiting or avoiding exposure to the allergens that cause eye allergies is the best way to prevent and cure them. You can do this by:

• Keeping your windows closed and using air filters or humidifiers in your home

• Wearing sunglasses or eyeglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from pollen or dust

• Washing your hands and face frequently and avoiding touching your eyes

• Cleaning your bedding and carpets regularly and using hypoallergenic products

• Avoiding wearing contact lenses or makeup that may irritate your eyes

• Using lubricating eye drops or artificial tears to wash away allergens and soothe your eyes

• Using antihistamine or decongestant eye drops to reduce itching and redness

• Using mast cell stabilizer eye drops to prevent the release of histamines

• Using steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation and swelling
   

Ensure you use these medications the way your eye doctor tells you to. Do not use eye drops with vasoconstrictors, chemicals that make blood vessels smaller. These may provide temporary relief but can cause rebound effects if used too long.

Conclusion

Eye allergies are not something you have to live with. If you suffer from them, see an eye doctor. They can diagnose your condition and prescribe the best treatment for you. You should also try to avoid or limit contact with the allergens that worsen your symptoms and use suitable medications to ease them.

For more information on eye allergies, visit Dr. Fallon Patel & Associates at our Oakville, Burlington, Stoney Creek, or Hamilton, Ontario offices. Call (905) 845-5653, (289) 266-0284, (289) 678-0121, or (289) 678-0120 to schedule an appointment today.