What are the common causes of eye allergies. How can you differentiate between allergic conjunctivitis and pink eye. What are the most effective treatments for swollen eyes due to allergies. How can you manage dry eyes associated with allergies. What are the best over-the-counter and prescription medications for eye allergies.

Understanding Eye Allergies and Allergic Conjunctivitis

Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition affecting millions of people worldwide. These allergies occur when the eyes react to certain substances, known as allergens, causing inflammation of the conjunctiva – the thin, clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid.

Common symptoms of eye allergies include:

• Redness and swelling of the eyes
• Itching and burning sensation
• Watery discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision

Common Triggers of Eye Allergies

Eye allergies can be triggered by various environmental factors. Some of the most common allergens include:

• Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Mold spores
• Air pollution
• Cosmetics and perfumes

Are certain seasons worse for eye allergies? Yes, seasonal allergies can significantly impact eye health. Spring and fall are typically the worst seasons for those with pollen allergies, while indoor allergens like dust mites can cause year-round symptoms.

Distinguishing Between Eye Allergies and Pink Eye

One of the challenges in diagnosing eye allergies is differentiating them from other eye conditions, particularly pink eye (conjunctivitis). While both conditions can cause redness and discomfort, there are key differences that can help in identification.

Characteristics of Eye Allergies

• Clear, watery discharge
• Itching is a prominent symptom
• Usually affects both eyes
• Often accompanied by other allergy symptoms like sneezing or runny nose

Characteristics of Pink Eye

• Yellow or greenish discharge (bacterial)
• May start in one eye and spread to the other
• Gritty feeling in the eye
• Can be caused by viruses or bacteria

Can eye allergies lead to more serious conditions? While eye allergies are generally not serious, chronic inflammation can lead to more severe eye problems if left untreated. It’s essential to consult an eye care professional if symptoms persist or worsen.

Effective Treatments for Swollen Eyes Due to Allergies

Managing swollen eyes caused by allergies involves a combination of preventive measures and targeted treatments. Here are some effective strategies:

Avoidance and Prevention

The first line of defense against eye allergies is avoiding triggers whenever possible:

• Stay indoors on high pollen count days
• Use air purifiers with HEPA filters
• Wear wraparound sunglasses when outdoors
• Wash bedding regularly in hot water
• Keep pets out of the bedroom

Home Remedies and Self-Care

Several at-home treatments can provide relief from swollen, itchy eyes:

1. Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and itching
2. Use preservative-free artificial tears to flush out allergens
3. Practice good hygiene by washing hands and face frequently
4. Avoid rubbing your eyes to prevent further irritation

How often should you use artificial tears for allergic eyes? For mild symptoms, using artificial tears 4-6 times a day can provide relief. However, if you find yourself needing them more frequently, it’s advisable to consult an eye doctor for stronger treatment options.

Over-the-Counter Medications for Eye Allergies

Several over-the-counter (OTC) options are available for treating eye allergies:

Antihistamine Eye Drops

These drops work by blocking histamine, the chemical responsible for allergy symptoms. They can provide quick relief from itching and redness.

Decongestant Eye Drops

These drops reduce redness by constricting blood vessels in the eye. However, they should not be used for more than 3 days as they can cause rebound redness.

Oral Antihistamines

While effective for overall allergy symptoms, oral antihistamines may cause dry eyes as a side effect.

Is it safe to use OTC eye drops long-term? Most OTC eye drops are safe for short-term use. However, prolonged use of some drops, particularly those containing decongestants, can lead to adverse effects. It’s best to consult an eye care professional for long-term management of eye allergies.

Prescription Treatments for Severe Eye Allergies

When OTC treatments are insufficient, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications:

Prescription Antihistamine Eye Drops

These are more potent than OTC versions and can provide longer-lasting relief.

Mast Cell Stabilizers

These prevent the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances. They’re often combined with antihistamines for maximum effect.

Corticosteroid Eye Drops

Reserved for severe cases, these drops reduce inflammation but should only be used under close medical supervision due to potential side effects.

How long does it take for prescription eye drops to work? Most prescription eye drops start providing relief within a few days of consistent use. However, some medications, like mast cell stabilizers, may take up to two weeks to reach full effectiveness.

Managing Dry Eyes Associated with Allergies

Dry eye syndrome often coexists with eye allergies, exacerbating discomfort. This condition occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

• Burning or stinging sensation
• Feeling of grittiness or foreign body in the eye
• Blurred vision that improves with blinking
• Excessive tearing followed by periods of dryness

Treatment Options for Dry Eye

1. Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops
2. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
3. Prescription medications like Cyclosporine or Lifitegrast
4. Punctal plugs to prevent tear drainage

Can allergies cause permanent dry eye? While allergies themselves don’t typically cause permanent dry eye, chronic inflammation from allergies can contribute to long-term changes in tear production and quality. Managing both conditions simultaneously is crucial for optimal eye health.

Lifestyle Modifications for Allergy Relief

In addition to medical treatments, certain lifestyle changes can significantly improve eye allergy symptoms:

Environmental Controls

• Use allergen-proof bedding covers
• Keep windows closed during high pollen seasons
• Use a dehumidifier to reduce mold growth
• Vacuum regularly with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner

Personal Habits

• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
• Remove contact lenses when experiencing allergy symptoms
• Wear glasses or sunglasses outdoors to block airborne allergens
• Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors during allergy season

How can you allergy-proof your home effectively? Start by identifying and removing common allergens. Use hypoallergenic filters in your HVAC system, keep pets out of bedrooms, and regularly clean surfaces with a damp cloth to trap dust. Consider using an air purifier in rooms where you spend the most time.

When to Seek Professional Help for Eye Allergies

While many cases of eye allergies can be managed with OTC treatments and lifestyle changes, there are instances when professional medical attention is necessary:

Signs You Should See an Eye Doctor

• Symptoms persist despite OTC treatments
• Vision changes or severe eye pain
• Discharge that is thick, yellow, or greenish
• Symptoms interfere with daily activities or sleep
• You have a history of eye problems or other health conditions

What to Expect During an Eye Allergy Examination

1. Review of medical history and symptoms
2. Visual acuity test
3. Examination of the eye’s external structures
4. Slit-lamp examination to check the eye’s internal structures
5. Possible allergy testing to identify specific triggers

How often should you have your eyes checked if you suffer from chronic allergies? For those with chronic eye allergies, an annual comprehensive eye exam is recommended. However, if you experience sudden changes in symptoms or new eye problems, you should seek immediate care.

Eye allergies can significantly impact quality of life, but with proper management and treatment, most people can find relief. By understanding the causes, recognizing symptoms, and implementing effective treatments, you can keep your eyes comfortable and healthy throughout allergy seasons and beyond. Remember, persistent or severe symptoms warrant professional medical attention to ensure the best possible outcome for your eye health.

Eye Allergies – Allergic Conjunctivitis

What can you do for eye allergy treatment and relief?

The best thing to do is to totally avoid whatever eye allergens and irritants bother your eyes. However, this is hard since these triggers are airborne.

Here are some tips to keep your eyes clear, clean and comfortable:

• Use a preservative-free eye wash or artificial tears to moisten dry, irritated eyes and help wash out allergens and irritants.
• Put a damp washcloth in the freezer for a few minutes and then apply it to your eyelids to reduce itching and swelling.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes. Wash your hands and face after being outside on high pollen and mold days.

What are some eye allergy medications?

First, talk with your doctor about developing an allergy treatment plan that addresses nasal, respiratory and eye symptoms.

Over-the-counter and prescription eyedrops and oral medications can also be used to treat eye allergies.

Over-the-counter
Oral antihistamines can help relieve itchy eyes, but they may also dry out the eyes. Decongestant eyedrops (with or without antihistamines) can help reduce eye redness associated with allergies, but they should not be used for more than three days or they may worsen irritation.

Prescription
Antihistamine eyedrops can reduce eye swelling, itching and redness associated with allergies. Antihistamine drops combined with a mast cell stabilizer provide relief for itching, redness and burning sensation and can also prevent symptoms.

For severe eye allergies, you may be prescribed mild corticosteroid drops – these should only be used for conjunctivitis caused by allergy, not bacterial infections. Eye allergies cause clear, watery discharges while bacterial infections cause yellow or greenish secretions.

Is it pink eye or allergies?

It can be difficult to tell the difference between allergic conjunctivitis and pink eye, a conjunctivitis caused by a virus or bacteria. Eye allergy tends to clear secretions and itching, while bacterial infections causing pink eye usually involve yellow or greenish discharge. Most conjunctivitis is viral rather bacterial and resolves well after applying warm compresses. If only one eye is affected, take care to not touch or apply anything to the unaffected eye after touching the eye with the issue.

Never put corticosteroid drops into your eyes without having a comprehensive eye exam. It is very difficult to tell the difference between conjunctivitis caused by allergy or conjunctivitis caused by bacteria; corticosteroids can be dangerous with certain bacterial diseases. Eye allergy tends to cause clear secretions and itching, while bacterial infections usually involve yellow or greenish secretions.

If you suspect that you have eye allergies visit a healthcare professional. Preventing and treating eye symptoms may be part of your overall treatment plan.

Can allergies cause dry eyes?

If your eyes feel dry and irritated in the winter months when there are fewer outdoor allergens, then you may have a form of tear dysfunction known as dry eye, or “keratoconjunctivitis sicca. ” This is not an allergic reaction – it happens when your eyes either do not make enough tears or the tears they make go away very quickly.

Many people have dry eye, including about one-third of older adults. It’s commonly found in people with eye allergies as well. Symptoms are sometimes worse when it’s cold or windy outside, after you turn on the heat in your home, or if you’re in a dry environment. Some medications, including oral antihistamines, sleeping pills and anti-depressants, can cause symptoms.

What is the treatment for dry eye?

Artificial tears – lubricant eye drops – are the main treatment for dry eye. They can keep the eye moist and reduce symptoms. You can buy artificial tears at a drug store or grocery store without a prescription. They come in liquid, gel or ointments. Preservative-free artificial tears are best for long-term use, but they are more expensive.

Other things you can do to help improve dry eye include:

• Try to blink a lot, especially when you are reading or using a computer. This helps keep your eyes moist.
• Avoid excess air conditioning or heating as much as you can. Also avoid sitting directly in the flow of cold or hot air.
• Use a humidifier in your bedroom and any other space where you spend a lot of time.
• Use goggles or “moisture chambers” if your doctor or nurse suggests them. Moisture chambers are special devices that fit on your glasses. They can help keep your eyes moist. You can buy moisture chambers at most stores that sell glasses.

Additional treatments include prescription eye drops and anti-inflammatory medicines. If these are not successful, tear duct plugs or surgery that requires the assistance of an ophthalmologist may be recommended.

Many people with difficult-to-control dry eye struggle with wearing contact lenses and may need to stop using them for as long as symptoms persist.

What to Do and When to See a Doctor

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Remedies and Treatments for a Swollen Eyelid
• When to See a Doctor
• Remedies for Children
• Emergency Care

The eyelid is a complex, fully functioning skin tissue that consists of eyelashes, tear glands (lacrimal), sweat glands (glands of Zeis or Moll), and sebaceous (oil or meibomian) glands. These tissues can develop inflammatory reactions, leading to a swollen eyelid.

A swollen eyelid is usually a symptom, not a condition. It’s very common and is usually due to allergy, inflammation, infection, or injury. The skin of your eyelid is less than 1 millimeter thick. But, since the tissue is loose and stretchy, your eyelid is capable of swelling considerably. 

A swollen eyelid is sometimes a symptom of a medical condition, such as:

• Allergies
• Clogged oil glands in your eyelid (called a chalazion)
• Eyelid infection (called a stye)
• Infection around your eye socket (called orbital cellulitis)
• Inflamed eyelids (called blepharitis)
• Pink eye (called conjunctivitis)
• Shingles
• Thyroid conditions such as Graves’ disease

Depending on the cause, you may experience swelling in one or both eyelids. Most of these conditions are not serious, but you should make sure to clean and care for your eyes if your eyelid is swollen.

The treatment for a swollen eyelid depends on the cause. If you have an eye infection, you may need to use antibiotic eye drops, ointment, or other topical medication — meaning a medication to be applied on the body — to help remove the infection and ease your symptoms. Your doctor may give you antibiotics or steroids to take orally if the topical treatment is ineffective. 

To relieve eyelid swelling and keep your eyes clear and healthy, try these home remedies for swollen eyelids:

Apply a Compress

Run a clean cloth under warm water and hold it gently on your eyes. Do this twice a day for 15 minutes at a time to help loosen crusty discharge and get rid of any oil that might be plugging your glands.

Gently Wash the Area

After using a compress, use a cotton swab or washcloth to gently clean your eyelids with diluted baby shampoo. Make sure to rinse your eye area well afterward. You can also use a saline solution to rinse the area if you have any discharge or crust around your eye or in your eyelashes.  

Leave Your Eyes Alone

While you have symptoms, don’t wear eye makeup or contact lenses. Get plenty of sleep and avoid direct sunlight so your eyes can rest.

Use Eye Drops

Use over-the-counter artificial tears to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Antihistamine drops can help with allergies and may help if your eyelid is swollen due to allergens. 

Eyelid swelling usually goes away on its own within a day or so. If it doesn’t get better in 24 to 48 hours, you should call your primary care physician or see your eye doctor. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your eye and eyelid. Your doctor will ask questions about other symptoms or changes that may be causing your eyelid or eyelids to swell. These could include contact with allergens or irritants, infections, or other health conditions. 

Children frequently experience eye irritation, typically from touching their eyes with unwashed hands. But there are several possible causes for eyelid swelling in children in addition to the causes listed above. These include:

• Rubbing the eye: Children often rub their eyes for various reasons but especially after getting an irritant in their eye.
• Insect bite near the eye: The loose tissues around the eye swell easily, which can happen as a reaction to a mosquito or other insect bite. 
• Contact dermatitis near the eye: Contact with poison ivy, detergents, or other irritants may affect the eyelid.

To treat your child, try these home remedies:

Cold Pack

Apply ice or a cold pack wrapped in a clean, wet washcloth to the eye for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to decrease eyelid swelling and pain.

Allergy Medicine

You can safely give your child an allergy medicine or antihistamine by mouth. This will help to decrease eyelid swelling and itching. Benadryl every 6 hours or so is best. 

Eye Drops

For eyelid swelling that interferes with your child’s vision, use a long-lasting vasoconstrictor eye drop (such as a tetrahydrozoline, like Visine). No prescription is needed. The recommended dose is one drop every eight to 12 hours as needed for one to two days. 

You should seek emergency medical care or call your doctor right away if you or your child experience:

• Drooping of the eyelid
• Fever that won’t break
• Light sensitivity, seeing flashing lights or wavy lines
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Severe redness, inflammation, and a hot feeling
• Severe swelling (the eye is shut or almost shut)

Top Picks

Allergy in the eyes – symptoms, causes and treatment of an allergic reaction in adults

Author, editor and medical expert – Anna Aleksandrovna Petrashevich.

Editor and medical expert – Harutyunyan Mariam Harutyunovna.

Number of views: 151,706

Date last updated: 6/25/2023

Average read time: 7 minutes

9000 2 Contents:

Allergy eye symptoms
Allergy classification
Why eyes swell
What happens if the allergy is not treated
Possible treatment regimens for allergies
Benefits of using VIZIN® Allergy

Allergy is a specific reaction of the body to the action of any irritant. Usually this disease makes itself felt in childhood. Much less often, signs of an allergic reaction first appear in adults. One of the most frequent “targets” of this disease are the skin and mucous membranes, while often there is an allergy to the eyes. This is because the organs of vision are directly exposed to airborne stimuli. These include animal hair, house dust, pollen, mold spores, etc. Eye irritation often occurs due to cosmetics (mascara, eyeliner, pencil and other makeup products).

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Allergy Ocular Symptoms

Symptoms occur in response to the irritating action of an allergen. First, there is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which develops due to vasodilation and increased blood flow. Outwardly, it looks like redness of the eyes. In most cases, this stage becomes only the beginning, followed by another sign – edema. Often with allergies, the eyes itch and watery, itching occurs.

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Allergy classification

Seasonal. In this case, eye allergy symptoms appear at certain times of the year, usually during the spring and summer months. It is usually caused by plant pollen. The most frequent provocateur is the flowering of oak, birch, bluegrass, ash, dandelion, ambrosia, timothy, rye. At the same time, these plants do not necessarily have to grow close to humans. The wind can carry pollen 50-300 km, so it can be difficult to independently determine what exactly caused the signs of allergy in the eyes.

Year-round. This species does not depend on the season. In this case, chronic eye allergy can be observed, because the irritating factor is often near the person all the time. Allergens in this case can be skin scales, animal hair, mold spores, waste products of dust mites. Sometimes symptoms appear after taking certain medications or using household chemicals.

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Why eyes swell

The longer the mucous membrane of the eyes is in contact with the allergen, the more pronounced the swelling becomes. This is due to the fact that fluid is pulled up to it, which accumulates in the skin of the eyelids, where the largest amount of adipose tissue is observed. In addition, such a reaction can be produced by lymphocytic tissue located deep in the conjunctiva. In this case, local edema is formed, which looks like a lot of tubercles-follicles. Such changes in the lymphocytic tissue lead to a weakening of the protective functions, since the lacrimal glands located in the edema zone cannot work in the same mode. Such a violation is fraught with the penetration of viruses and bacteria, which lead to the development of inflammation.

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What happens if the allergy is not treated

The most common manifestation of eye mucosal allergy is conjunctivitis, which occurs due to a local inflammatory reaction. However, it is very rarely the only symptom of an allergy. In the future, there is swelling, redness of the eyelids. If you do not isolate a person from the allergen, photophobia and mucous discharge from the eyes may be added to the listed symptoms. Allergies often cause a feeling of sand in the eyes. Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the nasal ducts, allergic rhinitis can join the symptoms of allergies in the eyes. In order not to start this chain reaction, it is important to take timely measures to alleviate the very first signs of the disease.

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Possible allergy treatment regimens

Comprehensive approach. Diagnosis is of great importance in the choice of treatment regimen. Identification of an allergen allows you to eliminate or minimize contact with it. So, if it is pollen, it is better not to go outside in the morning, because during this period its concentration in the air is the highest. On the contrary, rain nails pollen to the ground, so allergy sufferers feel better after it. If contact with the allergen cannot be completely excluded, measures should be taken to alleviate the manifestations of the disease. Since, in addition to the occurrence of puffiness, allergies are accompanied by many other symptoms, the treatment of this disease should be aimed at getting rid of each of them. Measures should be taken not only during the period of exacerbation. You can help your eyes even before the first symptoms appear, especially if the allergy is seasonal. For these purposes, moisturizing drops may be suitable. You should also rinse your eyes with clean water as often as possible.

Use of antihistamines. Histamine is a substance produced in the body that mediates the development of an allergic reaction. The receptors that produce it are also located on the mucous membrane of the eye. Typically, antihistamines are used for severe allergy symptoms. They can help with itching, swelling, redness of the mucosa. Antihistamines contain h2-receptor blockers, due to which the reactive reaction to the allergen begins to decrease. Produced in the form of drops, such drugs act directly at the site of the lesion.

Eye moisturizing. Tissues of the lacrimal glands recover for a long time. To facilitate this process, you can use moisturizing eye drops at the first symptoms of an allergy. Their action will minimize the damage to the glandular tissue, and therefore, prevent or reduce the swelling of the eyes, which usually leads to blockage of the lacrimal glands. Therapy using topical moisturizing drops can last about a month.

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The main active ingredient of VIZIN 9 eye drops0080 ® Alergi – levocabastine hydrochloride. It is a powerful selective blocker of h2-histamine receptors, due to which swelling, itching and other allergy symptoms are eliminated in a short time. VIZIN ^® Allergy drops are the latest generation of antihistamines. The drug has the following advantages.

• Rapid relief of symptoms. VISIN® Allergy drops for 5 minutes ¹ after instillation can relieve swelling, itching and other manifestations of allergies. The effect of the drug lasts up to 12 hours.
• High security profile. The drug is used topically, due to which it combines both speed of action and safety. At the same time, the risk of developing adverse reactions associated with its use is minimal.
• Possibility of long-term use. Instructions for the use of drops VIZIN® Allergy does not contain restrictions on the duration of use of the drug.

¹ According to the instructions for use of the drug

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment.

Allergic eye edema

09/28/2021

Allergy for a person is always a stress that must be dealt with without delay. After all, this disease leads to sad consequences. However, if you know the situation and contact a specialist in time, you can avoid a sad outcome. Almost instantly allergy manifests itself in eyes accompanied by unpleasant symptoms and discomfort.

Symptoms and causes of allergic edema eye

The most severe complication of allergy can be edema eye . It is considered severe because there is a risk of causing great harm to the body, and even losing sight . It is important for each person to know what to do in this situation. But first you need to understand – what is an allergic edema eye .

Allergy , like a chain reaction – gradually, but very quickly affects almost all parts of the body.

And the causes of edema eyes can be very different: 08 with food (coffee, citrus fruits, eggs, etc.)

Allergic symptoms there is practically no purulent discharge and pain is not felt. Allergic edema eye can be identified by redness eyelid and the eyeball, instantaneous and, most often, severe edema eyelid , unpleasant itching and feeling of “mote in the eye”.

Necessary first aid

Allergic edema eye In no case should you let it take its course and self-medicate. When it appears, you should immediately contact doctor who will provide assistance and prescribe the necessary medications. The patient should immediately take an antiallergic drug. For a speedy recovery, you also need to drink more water. Doctors prescribe activated charcoal as a mandatory supplement.

To relieve itching, eyes apply cotton swabs soaked in slightly cool water. It is strictly forbidden to apply hot and cold, as this will injure the eyes .
After doctor prescribes diet , which eliminates food allergens and promotes faster recovery, as well as additional drugs, such as:

• tavegil, prednisone, etc.)
• Vasoconstrictive eye drops
• Most recommended – Advantan ointment (hormonal)

Risk of allergic edema eyes

Allergy is dangerous because it causes complications to other organs and mucous membranes.