Eye Allergies: Symptoms, Triggers, Treatments

Medically Reviewed by Whitney Seltman, OD on November 02, 2021

Have allergies turned your eyes red and puffy? You’re not alone — millions of Americans deal with the condition, also called allergic conjunctivitis. A cold compress can give you a quick fix before heading out in public. But for long-term relief, you need to know your triggers and treat the symptoms.

They include redness in the white of your eye or inner eyelid. Other warning signs: itching, tearing, blurred vision, a burning sensation, swollen eyelids, and sensitivity to light. Eye allergies can happen alone or with nasal allergies and an allergic skin condition called eczema. The only way to know for sure if it’s an allergy is to see your doctor.

Because they’re exposed to an allergen, like pet dander or pollen. Cells in your eyes called mast cells release histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation. The result: itching, redness, and watering.

It’s hard not to touch them, but it’ll only make things worse. Rubbing causes mast cells to release more of those itch-causing chemicals. These things can help: If you wear contact lenses, take them out. Skip the eye makeup, and apply cool compresses to your eyes. Use preservative free artificial tear drops to wash allergens out of your eyes. Wash your hands often.

Apply a hypoallergenic concealer to help hide dark circles. Don’t try to cover up with heavy makeup — it’ll only call attention to your red, watery eyes. Instead, emphasize another feature. Wear a killer shade of lipstick, for example.

If your eyes well up when you go outside during spring or summer, you may have seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Grass, tree, and weed pollens are the worst offenders. When pollen counts are high, stay indoors, keep your windows closed, and run the air conditioner. Wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.

Pet dander, dust mites, and molds top the list. They can cause symptoms all year long. If you have a pet, keep them out of your bedroom. Can’t resist playing with Fluffy or Fido at a friend’s house? Wash your hands ASAP when you’re done. Change clothes as soon as you go home. Make sure to also use preservative-free artificial tears to wash out any allergens that may be getting into your eyes.

If dust mites set off your symptoms, invest in bedding and pillowcases that keep them out. Wash sheets in hot water, and try to keep the humidity levels in your home between 30% and 50%. Clean floors with a damp mop. Don’t sweep — it stirs up allergens.

Clean bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where mold lurks. Get a dehumidifier to help remove moisture from the air. Change the water often. Get a HEPA filter for your air conditioner, too. It can trap mold spores before they attack your eyes.

Most over-the-counter drops for eye allergies have the same medications used to treat nasal allergies: 

• Antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers block the release of itch-causing chemicals your body makes.
• Decongestant drops shrink blood vessels in your eyes, which eases redness.
• Tear substitutes rinse away allergens and keep eyes moist.

People with certain conditions should not use some types of eye drops, so ask your doctor. Prescription options may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids.

Antihistamines and decongestants that you take as pills, capsules, or liquids can help control your symptoms. But they can dry out your eyes and might make you sleepy. Some OTC decongestants make you dizzy or wired. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor what to take.

They work well for eye allergies. The shots, which your doctor might call immunotherapy, help your immune system get used to the things that trigger your symptoms. They’re usually an option for people with severe allergies. Treatment can take months, and you may still need to use medicine. Ask your doctor if they’ll work for you.

There’s a lot you can do to take the sting out of your eye allergies. Work with your doctor to set a plan in place to stop future attacks.

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REFERENCES:
 

American Academy of Family Physicians.

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

American Family Physician.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

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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.

Puffy eyes from allergies? Treatment and prevention

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If you have swollen eyelids, allergies can unfortunately be your problem during the flowering season. After all, puffy eyes from allergies are one of the most common symptoms of a pollen allergy. The good news is that eye allergies can be treated at home in fairly simple ways. Read our article and you will learn what to do with puffy eyes and how to bring swollen and itchy eyelids back to normal. The preventive measures that we will discuss will help you quickly recover from eye allergies.

Please note that all information on our website is provided for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for expert advice. In case of any complications, consult a doctor immediately!

Puffy eyes: Allergy and its causes

Runny nose, sore throat and puffy eyes from allergies are the main and very unpleasant symptoms of pollen allergy. But what exactly causes eye swelling from allergies? The fact is that our body struggles with external stimuli, such as dust, dandruff or pollen. When your eyelids are swollen, an allergy to pollen or other foreign elements triggers a defensive reaction in the body. Watery eyes help you get rid of dry eyes and allergens, but at the same time cause itching and redness of the eyelids.

You have learned what an eye allergy is. Now we will tell you what to do with puffy eyes from allergies at home.

Eye Allergies: Prevention and Treatment

We strongly recommend that you first consult your doctor before using any eye products, especially if there is no noticeable improvement or allergy symptoms worsen.

However, there are several things you can do to prevent puffy eyes from allergies at home:

• Cold compresses. A clean, soft cloth soaked in cold water will help relieve unpleasant itching and inflammation of the eyelids.
• Flush eyes frequently. Wash your face with clean cold water. This will help loosen the allergens and flush them out of your eyes.

For compresses and wiping tears, use tissue paper and boxed tissues such as Zewa Deluxe. They are very soft and will be extremely gentle on your sore eyes.

How to avoid pollen allergy

Puffy eyes from allergies can be soothed and relieve irritation. But prevention, as you know, is always better than cure, especially when it comes to pollen allergies. The home remedies described above will help relieve allergy symptoms. But these simple preventive measures will help you avoid eye allergies:

• Watch the weather forecast. One of the most effective ways to avoid puffy eyes from allergies is to try to leave the house as little as possible in dry weather when there is a lot of dust outside. Checking the weather forecast every day will not take you much time, but it will help you forget about allergies to dust and pollen for a long time.
• Wear sunglasses. Of course, you can’t stay at home all the time because of the weather. But when going outside on such hot and dry days, never forget your sunglasses. They will protect your eyes from allergens.
• Close windows. Pollen can enter your home or car through open windows. On hot days, use fans and turn on the air conditioner in your car, but try to keep the windows closed.

Our simple tips will help you avoid eye allergies and reduce eye puffiness. Now you know why eye allergies occur and what to do about puffy eyes. Put our recommendations into practice, and you will be able to look at the world with new, clear eyes!

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Allergy edema: how to relieve allergic edema

Edema is one of the most common manifestations of allergies.

And, unfortunately, allergic edema most often appears on the face. How to get rid of them correctly and quickly?

Doctor’s consultation

You can get the consultation of the necessary specialist online in the Doctis 9 application0013

Laboratory

You can undergo a comprehensive examination of all major body systems

• Physiology of allergic edema
• Acute allergic edema
• Chronic allergic edema
• Treatment of allergic edema
• Topical Allergy Remedies
• Prevention of allergic edema

Why do allergic edema occur? What are they?

This phenomenon is based on the reaction of the body to an allergen – an increase in the permeability of the vascular
walls and the release of a large amount of fluid into the surrounding tissues. The speed of this process is directly related to the number
allergen and the duration of contact with it, as well as with sensitization of the body, that is
his sensitivity to the allergen.

Allergic edema – acute and chronic.

Acute edema is often manifested by Quincke’s edema – a massive increase in the volume of the face and neck, which
threatens to obstruct the upper respiratory tract and may well cause respiratory arrest. Therefore, Quincke’s edema
referred to as emergency situations. And in order to remove such a strong edema, an allergic person needs to be as soon as possible.
hospitalize, and in the hospital, against the background of complex treatment, the swelling will decline.
Sometimes acute edema does not occupy the entire face, but some part of it. For example, in response to a hit
pollen greatly swells the nose. Or lips can react to a new lipstick, so much so that no hyaluronic
acid is not needed. Sometimes the upper and lower eyelids swell when an allergen gets into the eyes.

The second type of allergic edema is chronic edema. They appear gradually, over several
hours, often in spring and early summer, during flowering. They are less dangerous, but no less
noticeable.

What are the general treatments for allergic edema?

Edema, although located on the face or limbs, is a manifestation of a systemic disease –
allergies. This means that drugs that act on the body systemically (that is, tablets) cannot be dispensed with.

In case of massive acute edema, epinephrine is administered intravenously to relieve them,
hormones, antihistamines. Let’s leave this job to the paramedics.

Local acute as well as chronic edema require oral antihistamines. Often this
course treatment, covering the entire period of the allergen, for example, flowering. Or for the entire visit,
a dusty room, for example, an old library or a museum store. I understand that among the readers there are those
who does not like pills, but alas, without antihistamines, it will not be possible to quickly remove allergic edema.

Is it possible to quickly remove allergic edema with the help of topical agents?

Various topical ointments containing hormones, mainly corticosteroids, are intended for this purpose.
They are used as prescribed by a doctor,
rubbing into the swollen area 2-3 times a day.

In addition, skin and nasal sprays, drops
with anti-edematous action. In order to choose the right agent and the optimal dosage form, it is better
consult with a doctor.

There are many effective folk recipes for the quick removal of allergic edema. So, swelling from the face
helps to remove the mask of fermented milk (kefir, sour cream) products. It should be applied to the face for 15-20
minutes and then rinse with cool water. Equally effective is the application of an ice heating pad or
direct massage with an ice cube obtained from freshly frozen black or green tea. Ice cubes –
an excellent remedy for removing swelling from the lips. If the eyelids are swollen, the old one will come to the rescue
beautician – cucumber. It is cut into rings, which are applied to the eyelids for 10-15
minutes.

How to avoid the recurrence of allergic edema?

So that the surprise does not take you by surprise again, you need to consult an allergist and try
calculate who served as the source of the allergy.