What are the common symptoms of eye allergies. How can you identify triggers for allergic conjunctivitis. What are the best home remedies and medical treatments for itchy, swollen eyes.

Understanding Eye Allergies: Symptoms and Causes

Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, can significantly impact daily life. While many people focus on nasal allergy symptoms, the eyes are equally susceptible to allergic reactions. These ocular allergies typically pose no long-term threat to vision, but they can cause considerable discomfort and temporary visual disturbances.

Common Symptoms of Eye Allergies

• Red, irritated eyes
• Intense itching
• Excessive tearing or runny eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Soreness and burning sensation
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Temporary blurred vision

Eye allergy symptoms often coincide with other allergic reactions, such as nasal congestion and sneezing. The onset of symptoms can be immediate upon contact with an allergen or may develop over 2 to 4 days.

What Causes Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances. This overreaction triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals in the eyes, leading to inflammation and the characteristic symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.

Types of Eye Allergies: Seasonal vs. Perennial

Eye allergies are generally categorized into two main types: seasonal and perennial. Understanding the difference can help in identifying triggers and developing effective management strategies.

Seasonal Eye Allergies

Seasonal allergies are more common and occur at specific times of the year, typically from early spring through summer and into autumn. The primary triggers for seasonal eye allergies include:

• Pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds
• Mold spores

Perennial Eye Allergies

Perennial allergies, as the name suggests, can occur year-round. These are often triggered by indoor allergens, including:

• Dust mites
• Feathers in bedding
• Animal dander

Additionally, other substances can exacerbate eye allergies, such as perfumes, smoke, chlorine, air pollution, cosmetics, and certain medications.

Identifying Your Eye Allergy Triggers

Recognizing what triggers your eye allergies is crucial for effective management. In some cases, the cause may be obvious – for instance, if symptoms flare up when you go outside on a high-pollen day or when a pet climbs onto your lap. However, if the trigger isn’t clear, professional medical testing can help identify specific allergens.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you’re unable to pinpoint your allergy triggers or if over-the-counter treatments aren’t providing relief, it’s time to consult an allergist or ophthalmologist. These specialists can perform tests to determine your specific allergens and recommend targeted treatment options.

Effective Strategies for Avoiding Eye Allergy Triggers

The first line of defense against eye allergies is avoiding exposure to triggers. Here are some practical strategies to minimize contact with common allergens:

Pollen Avoidance Techniques

• Stay indoors during peak pollen times (usually mid-morning and early evening)
• Close windows and use air conditioning to filter the air
• Wear large sunglasses or eyeglasses when outdoors to block pollen
• Keep car windows closed and use the air conditioner while driving

Reducing Indoor Allergens

• Use allergen-proof pillow covers and wash bedding frequently in hot water
• Replace old mattresses, which can harbor allergens
• Clean floors with a damp mop instead of sweeping
• Consider replacing carpets with hard flooring for easier cleaning
• Use blinds instead of curtains to reduce dust accumulation

Controlling Mold Growth

• Maintain indoor humidity below 50% using dehumidifiers if necessary
• Clean dehumidifiers regularly to prevent mold growth
• Use bleach solutions when cleaning kitchens and bathrooms

Managing Pet Allergies

If you’re allergic to pets but can’t bear to part with them, keep them out of your bedroom and other areas where you spend a lot of time. Regular grooming and cleaning can also help reduce pet dander in your home.

At-Home Remedies for Eye Allergy Relief

While avoiding triggers is essential, there are several at-home remedies that can provide relief from eye allergy symptoms:

• Apply cool compresses to soothe itchy, swollen eyes
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this can worsen symptoms
• Use artificial tears or saline eye drops to flush out allergens
• Try over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops for quick relief

It’s important to note that while these remedies can offer temporary relief, they may not be sufficient for severe or persistent eye allergies.

Medical Treatments for Eye Allergies

When at-home remedies aren’t enough, various medical treatments can effectively manage eye allergy symptoms. These range from over-the-counter options to prescription medications.

Over-the-Counter Eye Drops

Several types of OTC eye drops can provide relief from allergy symptoms:

• Antihistamine drops: Reduce itching and redness
• Artificial tears: Soothe irritation and flush out allergens
• Decongestant drops: Reduce redness by constricting blood vessels (use sparingly to avoid rebound effects)

Prescription Eye Drops

For more severe or persistent symptoms, your doctor may prescribe stronger eye drops:

• Mast cell stabilizers (e.g., Cromolyn, Lodoxamide): Prevent the release of histamine
• Antihistamine/mast cell stabilizer combinations: Offer both immediate and long-term relief
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ketorolac: Relieve itching and inflammation
• Steroid eye drops (e.g., Loteprednol): Used for severe, persistent allergies (short-term use only due to potential side effects)

Oral Allergy Medications

In addition to eye drops, oral antihistamines can help manage overall allergy symptoms, including those affecting the eyes. These may be particularly useful for individuals experiencing both ocular and nasal allergy symptoms.

Long-Term Management of Eye Allergies

For individuals with severe or chronic eye allergies, long-term management strategies may be necessary. These can include:

Immunotherapy

Allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy can help desensitize the body to specific allergens over time. This treatment involves exposing the body to gradually increasing amounts of an allergen, eventually reducing the allergic response.

Lifestyle Changes

Making long-term lifestyle adjustments can significantly reduce exposure to allergens and minimize symptoms. This might include changes to your home environment, daily routines, or even considering relocation if severe seasonal allergies are a problem.

When to Seek Emergency Care for Eye Allergies

While eye allergies are generally not dangerous, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Seek emergency care if you experience:

• Severe eye pain
• Sudden vision changes
• Symptoms of eye infection (e.g., thick, colored discharge)
• Allergic reactions affecting breathing or other body systems

Eye allergies, while uncomfortable, are manageable with the right approach. By identifying triggers, implementing avoidance strategies, and using appropriate treatments, most people can find significant relief from allergic conjunctivitis symptoms. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional for persistent or severe symptoms to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

How to Get Relief From Eye Allergies

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Eye Allergy Symptoms
• Eye Allergy Causes
• Eye Allergy Types
• At-Home Eye Allergy Remedies
• Other Kinds of Eyedrops
• Allergy Medications for Eyes
• More

People who have allergies are often quick to seek help for symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling, and nasal congestion. But allergies can affect the eyes, too. They can make your eyes red and itchy, triggering burning. They might be watery and swollen, too. The good news is the same treatments and self-help strategies that ease nasal allergy symptoms work for eye allergies.

Also called ocular allergies or allergic conjunctivitis, they pose little threat to eyesight other than temporary blurriness. You may start to have symptoms as soon as the eyes come in contact with the allergen, or you may not have symptoms for 2 to 4 days.

Symptoms of eye allergies include:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Itchiness
• Tearing or runny eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Soreness, burning, or pain
• Sensitivity to light

Usually, you’ll also have other allergy symptoms, such as a stuffy, runny nose and sneezing.

Like all allergies, eye allergies happen when your body overreacts to something. The immune system makes antibodies that cause your eyes to release histamine and other substances. This causes itching and red, watery eyes. Some people also have nasal allergies.

There are two types of eye allergies: seasonal, which are more common, and perennial.

Seasonal allergies happen at certain times of the year – usually early spring through summer and into autumn. Triggers are allergens in the air, commonly pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds, as well as spores from molds.

Perennial allergies happen year-round. Major causes include dust mites, feathers (in bedding), and animal (pet) dander. Other substances, including perfumes, smoke, chlorine, air pollution, cosmetics, and certain medicines, can also play a role.

Sometimes, it’s easy to tell what causes an allergy. For example, if symptoms strike when you go outside on a windy, high-pollen-count day, or when a pet climbs onto your lap. If your trigger isn’t clear, a doctor can give you tests to find out.

The first thing to do is to avoid your triggers.

Stay indoors when pollen counts are highest, usually in mid-morning and early evening. Close the windows and run the air conditioner. (Window fans can draw in pollen and mold spores.)

When you go out, wear eyeglasses or big sunglasses to block pollen from your eyes. Driving? Keep the windows closed and run the air conditioner.

To limit your exposure to dust mites, use special pillow covers that keep allergens out. Wash bedding frequently in hot water. If your mattress is more than a few years old, consider getting a new one.

Clean floors with a damp mop. Sweeping tends to stir up rather than get rid of allergens. Especially if you have a pet, consider replacing rugs and carpets, which trap and hold allergens, with hardwood, tile, or other flooring materials that are easier to clean. Choose blinds instead of curtains.

To stop mold from growing inside your home, keep the humidity under 50%. You may need to use a dehumidifier, especially in a damp basement. Clean the dehumidifier regularly. And use a bleach solution when you tidy up your kitchen and bathrooms.

If your pet is a trigger, keep it out of your bedroom. Don’t rub your eyes. That’s likely to make symptoms worse. Use cool compresses instead.

Some eyedrops work only when you take them before your symptoms hit. They take more time to work than antihistamine eyedrops, but the effects last longer. Sometimes they are combined with antihistamines. These eyedrops need a prescription:

• Cromolyn (Crolom)
• Lodoxamide (Alomide)
• Nedocromil sodium (Alocril)
• Pemirolast potassium (Alamast)

Ketorolac (Acular or Acuvail) is another kind of eyedrop. It relieves itchy eyes, usually in about an hour. It can sting or burn at first.

Steroid eyedrops like loteprednol (Alrex, Lotemax) treat severe, long-lasting eye allergies. They are usually used only for a short time because they can cause serious side effects.

If you’re still having symptoms, your doctor may suggest allergy shots. With allergy shots, your body is exposed to increasing amounts of an allergen over time and gradually gets used to it. Depending on the cause of your allergies, oral tablets or drops that work much like allergy shots could be used instead.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications can give short-term relief of some eye allergy symptoms. Prescription treatments can provide both short- and long-term help.

Sterile saline rinses and eye lubricants can soothe irritated eyes and help flush out allergens.

Decongestant eyedrops can curb eye redness by constricting blood vessels in the eyes. These drops tend to sting a bit, and they don’t relieve all symptoms. What’s more, their effect tends to be short-lived. If you use them for more than a few days, it can cause “rebound” eye redness. Eyedrops containing ketotifen can ease allergy symptoms for up to 12 hours. They won’t cause rebound redness even with long-term use. Refrigerating your eyedrops may bring more relief.

In addition to red, itchy eyes from allergies, many people also have other symptoms, like a stuffy, runny nose. If you do, nasal steroid sprays can help your eyes and nose. Over-the-counter options include Flonase, Rhinocort, and Nasacort. Several others are also available with a doctor’s prescription.

Oral antihistamines can also help. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) tend to be less sedating than some older drugs, and they provide longer-lasting relief. Keep in mind, though, that oral antihistamines do dry the eyes and can make a dry eye condition worse. 

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How to Get Relief From Eye Allergies

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Eye Allergy Symptoms
• Eye Allergy Causes
• Eye Allergy Types
• At-Home Eye Allergy Remedies
• Other Kinds of Eyedrops
• Allergy Medications for Eyes
• More

People who have allergies are often quick to seek help for symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling, and nasal congestion. But allergies can affect the eyes, too. They can make your eyes red and itchy, triggering burning. They might be watery and swollen, too. The good news is the same treatments and self-help strategies that ease nasal allergy symptoms work for eye allergies.

Also called ocular allergies or allergic conjunctivitis, they pose little threat to eyesight other than temporary blurriness. You may start to have symptoms as soon as the eyes come in contact with the allergen, or you may not have symptoms for 2 to 4 days.

Symptoms of eye allergies include:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Itchiness
• Tearing or runny eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Soreness, burning, or pain
• Sensitivity to light

Usually, you’ll also have other allergy symptoms, such as a stuffy, runny nose and sneezing.

Like all allergies, eye allergies happen when your body overreacts to something. The immune system makes antibodies that cause your eyes to release histamine and other substances. This causes itching and red, watery eyes. Some people also have nasal allergies.

There are two types of eye allergies: seasonal, which are more common, and perennial.

Seasonal allergies happen at certain times of the year – usually early spring through summer and into autumn. Triggers are allergens in the air, commonly pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds, as well as spores from molds.

Perennial allergies happen year-round. Major causes include dust mites, feathers (in bedding), and animal (pet) dander. Other substances, including perfumes, smoke, chlorine, air pollution, cosmetics, and certain medicines, can also play a role.

Sometimes, it’s easy to tell what causes an allergy. For example, if symptoms strike when you go outside on a windy, high-pollen-count day, or when a pet climbs onto your lap. If your trigger isn’t clear, a doctor can give you tests to find out.

The first thing to do is to avoid your triggers.

Stay indoors when pollen counts are highest, usually in mid-morning and early evening. Close the windows and run the air conditioner. (Window fans can draw in pollen and mold spores.)

When you go out, wear eyeglasses or big sunglasses to block pollen from your eyes. Driving? Keep the windows closed and run the air conditioner.

To limit your exposure to dust mites, use special pillow covers that keep allergens out. Wash bedding frequently in hot water. If your mattress is more than a few years old, consider getting a new one.

Clean floors with a damp mop. Sweeping tends to stir up rather than get rid of allergens. Especially if you have a pet, consider replacing rugs and carpets, which trap and hold allergens, with hardwood, tile, or other flooring materials that are easier to clean. Choose blinds instead of curtains.

To stop mold from growing inside your home, keep the humidity under 50%. You may need to use a dehumidifier, especially in a damp basement. Clean the dehumidifier regularly. And use a bleach solution when you tidy up your kitchen and bathrooms.

If your pet is a trigger, keep it out of your bedroom. Don’t rub your eyes. That’s likely to make symptoms worse. Use cool compresses instead.

Some eyedrops work only when you take them before your symptoms hit. They take more time to work than antihistamine eyedrops, but the effects last longer. Sometimes they are combined with antihistamines. These eyedrops need a prescription:

• Cromolyn (Crolom)
• Lodoxamide (Alomide)
• Nedocromil sodium (Alocril)
• Pemirolast potassium (Alamast)

Ketorolac (Acular or Acuvail) is another kind of eyedrop. It relieves itchy eyes, usually in about an hour. It can sting or burn at first.

Steroid eyedrops like loteprednol (Alrex, Lotemax) treat severe, long-lasting eye allergies. They are usually used only for a short time because they can cause serious side effects.

If you’re still having symptoms, your doctor may suggest allergy shots. With allergy shots, your body is exposed to increasing amounts of an allergen over time and gradually gets used to it. Depending on the cause of your allergies, oral tablets or drops that work much like allergy shots could be used instead.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications can give short-term relief of some eye allergy symptoms. Prescription treatments can provide both short- and long-term help.

Sterile saline rinses and eye lubricants can soothe irritated eyes and help flush out allergens.

Decongestant eyedrops can curb eye redness by constricting blood vessels in the eyes. These drops tend to sting a bit, and they don’t relieve all symptoms. What’s more, their effect tends to be short-lived. If you use them for more than a few days, it can cause “rebound” eye redness. Eyedrops containing ketotifen can ease allergy symptoms for up to 12 hours. They won’t cause rebound redness even with long-term use. Refrigerating your eyedrops may bring more relief.

In addition to red, itchy eyes from allergies, many people also have other symptoms, like a stuffy, runny nose. If you do, nasal steroid sprays can help your eyes and nose. Over-the-counter options include Flonase, Rhinocort, and Nasacort. Several others are also available with a doctor’s prescription.

Oral antihistamines can also help. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) tend to be less sedating than some older drugs, and they provide longer-lasting relief. Keep in mind, though, that oral antihistamines do dry the eyes and can make a dry eye condition worse. 

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Dog’s eyes are swollen: causes, first aid, treatment

For the owner of the dog, an unexpected edema in the animal of one or both eyes can be an unpleasant surprise.

Causes of swelling and inflammation of the eyes

Puffiness of the eyes in dogs has many causes, and some of them are not related to eye pathologies, that is, swelling of the eyelid can be the result of a disease of some other organ.

If a dog has a swollen eye, then this may be due to the following problems:

1. Inflammation of the conjunctiva is the most common cause of puffy eyes in dogs. Initially, conjunctivitis is accompanied by profuse lacrimation, the eyes may itch, and later swell and fester.
2. Allergy to household chemicals, food, tobacco smoke, plant pollen, etc. In severe cases, not only the eyes, but also the muzzle can swell, and, most dangerous of all, pulmonary edema can occur, leading to death.
3. Injuries to the cornea with small specks, twigs, pebbles, etc., which can cause purulent inflammation of the eye.
4. With inflammation of the eyelid – blepharitis, the tumor can be very strong, such that the dog’s eye almost does not open, itches, she tries to keep it closed and hide away from the light.
5. Another common cause of puffy eyes in dogs is torsion of the eyelids, in which the eyelashes injure the cornea. As a result of prolonged irritation of the cornea, the eye becomes inflamed, swollen, tears and purulent discharge constantly flow from it.
6. Edema can also cause swelling in the dog’s eye.
7. If the dog has a swollen under eye or upper eyelid, then most likely your pet has a barley.
8. In summer, eye swelling may be associated with insect bites (bees, spiders, etc.) or snake bites.
9. Edema of the eyes, caused by a disease of the heart or kidneys, appears in the dog periodically. In this case, the owner observes swollen eyes in his pet in the morning, later they take on a normal appearance.

Do not try to treat eye swelling in a dog at home, as only a veterinarian can determine the exact cause of the disease!

How can I help my dog ​​before visiting the clinic?

In order to slightly alleviate the condition of your pet before visiting the veterinary clinic, especially if it does not take place soon, a number of activities can be carried out:

• If you know that his dog has a tendency to allergies, then at the first signs of an allergic reaction – lacrimation, sneezing, swelling of the eyelids, it is urgent to give the dog an antihistamine (Suprastin, Claritin, Loratadin, etc. ).

• Applying a cold compress, such as a plastic bottle of ice water wrapped in a towel, to your swollen eye will help relieve some of the swelling.

• Wash the eye with a weak decoction of chamomile or saline.

• Apply an antibacterial eye ointment, such as tetracycline, behind the eyelids.

• Avoid combing the eye with a dog, as the dog’s paws can skin around it, and infect the wound.

If taking an antihistamine and first aid measures do not have the desired effect and the dog’s condition worsens – it vomits, it breathes frequently, swelling of the eyes and muzzle increases, then you should immediately go to the nearest veterinary clinic!

Such symptoms indicate that the animal may develop anaphylactic shock, which threatens the death of the dog. Before going to the clinic, you can give the animal an injection of Prednisolone or Diphenhydramine.

Clinical treatment

The veterinarian will examine your dog and determine why the dog’s eye is inflamed. In addition to the examination, he may prescribe any tests. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

If the swelling is caused by a snake or insect bite, then the clinic will open the bite site and disinfect the affected eye, and if necessary, they will also introduce a special serum.

In case of infectious diseases of the eyes (conjunctivitis, blepharitis, barley), treatment will be prescribed using antibacterial ointments, drops, and in difficult cases, oral antibiotics.

A torsion of the eyelid is usually corrected with minor surgery, after which the eyelid is kept in a normal position and no longer irritates the eye.

Swelling of the eyes in diseases of the kidneys or heart disappears after therapy aimed at eliminating problems with these organs.

The owner of the dog must understand that if his pet has a “Chinese” eye shape, then this is not a reason for fun, but a serious symptom that requires immediate contact with the veterinarian!

why they appear and what to do

Bruising under the eyes is a common problem for both women and men. Often dark circles are also accompanied by bags, which immediately add age. And what is most unpleasant: it is extremely difficult to get rid of them. Today we deal with the causes of bruising under the eyes and the most effective ways to deal with them.

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Bruises under the eyes

dark circles

Circles under the eyes

Why do dark circles appear under the eyes and are there effective ways to get rid of them? This question is probably asked by most of those who have once encountered this problem. We decided to answer the most interesting questions on the topic, as well as tell you about the best ways to deal with bruises and bags under the eyes!

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Who is most prone to bruising under the eyes

Dark circles can appear in people regardless of their age and gender. However, some have a higher risk of bruising and bags than others. These include:

• elderly;
• people with a genetic predisposition to periorbital hyperpigmentation, a disease characterized by bilateral darkening of the skin of the orbital area and eyelids;
• people with dark skin tone – they are more prone to hyperpigmentation of the area around the eyes.

Although fatigue is the most common and logical explanation for dark circles under the eyes, sometimes they occur for completely different reasons. In most of these cases, people have nothing to worry about and seek additional medical help.

Why do dark circles appear under the eyes

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There is a whole list – the reasons for the appearance of bruises under the eyes. Let’s talk about the most common of them.

Fatigue

Violation of the routine, extreme fatigue or going to bed a few hours later than usual can lead to the formation of dark circles under the eyes. Due to lack of sleep, the skin of the face sometimes becomes dull and pale, and dark blood vessels under the eyes shine through against its background.

Violation of the regimen can also lead to the accumulation of fluid in the area under the eyes, which will make them look inflamed and swollen. Dark circles in this case can only be shadows cast by swollen eyelids.

Age

The process of natural aging is also one of the causes of dark circles under the eyes. With age, the skin in this area becomes thinner. In addition, there is less fat and collagen in the body, so necessary to maintain skin elasticity. As a result, the blood vessels under the eyes become more visible, and the skin in this area darkens.

Tension of the eye muscles

Daily computer work and long hours spent in front of the TV screen can cause severe strain on the eye muscles. Strong tension leads to the expansion of blood vessels around the eyes. The result is dark circles.

Allergies

Allergic reactions and dry eyes can also cause dark circles under the eyes. With allergies, the body, in response to the appearance of harmful bacteria, begins to release histamines. They cause unpleasant symptoms, including itching, redness and swelling of the eyes. Histamine also causes blood vessels to dilate, making them more visible under the thin skin under the eyes.

Allergies can also cause itchy skin around the eyes to be scratched. This only increases swelling, inflammation, and rupture of blood vessels. Hence the dark circles!

Dehydration

Another common cause of dark circles under the eyes is dehydration. When the body does not get enough water, the skin under the eyes becomes dull and the eyes appear sunken in.

Long exposure to the sun

Passion for sunbathing in the warm sun can result in excessive production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin. As a result, hyperpigmentation may appear in the area under the eyes.

Genetics

Family history also plays a big role when it comes to the causes of dark circles under the eyes. Bruises sometimes appear in early childhood, and with age, the problem may either begin to worsen or disappear altogether. A predisposition to thyroid diseases can also cause bruising under the eyes.

How to deal with dark circles

You can get rid of dark circles under the eyes both at home and with the help of a number of cosmetic procedures. And now let’s talk about the most effective ways to deal with bruises in this sensitive area in more detail.

Home procedures

You need to start a full-fledged fight against bruises under the eyes after you have managed to figure out the true cause of their appearance. However, there are home remedies that help at least visually make circles under the eyes less noticeable.

Read also: Radiant look: 35 most effective remedies for the area around the eyes

Here are the most common ones: To do this, just wrap a few pieces of ice in a clean rag and apply the finished compress to the area under the eyes. To achieve the same effect, you can soak a cloth in cold water and leave it under your eyes for 20 minutes. Repeat the ritual if the rag dries or the ice melts;

Conceal dark circles with makeup.