Can Allergies Cause Dry Eyes

Puffy Eyes Caused By Allergies: Triggers And Treatments

• Puffy eyes are often due to allergic reactions and can be triggered by such irritants as pet dander, dust mites and mold.
• Puffy eyes are a result of three different forms of allergies: airborne, contact and ingested.
• Several over the counter and prescription treatments are available to treat the causes and symptoms of puffy eyes.

The eyes are typically where the signs of allergies are most commonly seen, including swollen and watery eyes, redness and itching. A variety of treatments exist, including home remedies, OTC and prescription medications.

The treatment you choose will often depend on the severity of the allergic reaction and the root cause.

Contents

• When to See a Doctor

Causes Of Eye Discharge

• Itchy, red eyelids
• Blurry vision

Blepharitis occurs when the oil glands in your eyelids become plugged with mucus, dirt, or debris from the environment. These glands protect the surface of your eye from these irritants, but if they are inflamed or clogged it can lead to discharge.

Treatment

The best way to treat blepharitis is to keep your eyelids clean. You can do this by using:

• Warm compresses
• Artificial tears
• Make-up remover pads
• Baby shampoo

Home Remedies To Relieve Pressure Behind Your Eye

Feeling pressure behind your eye is uncomfortable, no matter the cause. There are a couple of ways you can relieve the pressure at home easily.

• Over-the-counter medications: Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen can help reduce the pain and the inflammation thats causing it.
• Eye drops: Very often, you need a prescription for eye drops. Ask your pharmacist what options you have. You may find over-the-counter eye drops that reduce swelling or itchiness. Do not put essential oils in your eye to relieve the pressure.
• Cold compress: Putting a cold compress on your eye can be a welcome remedy if youre feeling heat and pain around your eye. Its especially helpful when youve experienced a face injury.
• Blindfold: If youre experiencing sensitivity to light, a blindfold or eye patch can help temporarily.

If you feel pressure behind your eye because of an infection, you may need antibiotics or antiviral medication. You can get a prescription for these from a doctor.

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Nasal Spray Improves Dry Eye Symptoms Regardless Of Severity

ODell L, et al. Effect of OC-01 nasal spray compared to vehicle on dry eye disease sign outcomes by baseline subgroup characteristics. Presented at: American Academy of Optometry annual meeting Nov. 2-6, 2021 Boston.

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BOSTON Treatment with OC-01 nasal spray showed significant improvements in dry eye disease signs and symptoms, according to a data review presented at the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting.

Most recently, dry eye diseases have been defined as a multifactorial disease characterized by an unstable or deficient tear film and accompanied by loss of homeostasis therefore, the goal for dry eye should be to reestablish the tear film and restore homeostasis,Leslie ODell, OD, FAAO, clinical director at Medical Optometry America in Shrewsbury, Pa., said during an academy-sponsored press conference.

Leslie ODell

To determine the effect of OC-01 on dry eye disease outcomes, ODell and colleagues analyzed integrated data from the ONSET-1 phase 2b and ONSET-2 phase 3 clinical trials.

The proposed mechanism of action of OC-01 nasal spray is to lead to an increase in basal tear production, ODell said.

The mean change was significant regardless of baseline test score severity.

Other treatment-related adverse events included cough and irritation to the throat and instillation site, which occurred in less than 5% of patients.

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Shield Your Eyes From Outdoor Allergens

If you notice that your eyes are often irritated by external allergens such as falling leaves, blooming flowers or fresh cut grass, protect your eyes while outdoors. Wear sunglasses or moisture-chamber glasses and a visor or hat to shield your eyes as much as possible from airborne particles.

You can also check the pollen count for any day by visiting pollen.com. The weather app on your phone may also have useful information in the air quality section. Try to avoid being outside for long periods when the pollen count is high.

Oral Agents And Implications For Ded

Many patients with systemic allergies self-medicate with oral antihistamines, and their good intentions may lead to unwanted sequelae that have importance for the health of their eyes. The use of oral antihistamines for treating ocular allergy is controversial because there is not much evidence that their use has any benefit for the ocular manifestations. The use of oral antihistamines can, however, dry the cornea, which in turn intensifies the allergic response. In most cases, patients are unaware that the oral antihistamines they are using to relieve their primary allergy symptom are producing a deleterious effect on the ocular surface that worsens another component of their allergic response.

Given the popularity of over-the-counter options for treating systemic allergies, it is not at all uncommon for patients to experience eye dryness, which they may attribute to ocular allergies. Because of the crossover in symptoms between the two conditions , it may be difficult for practitioners to parse out the specific etiology. As a matter of practicality, it then becomes incumbent on the eye care practitioner to talk with patients taking systemic allergy medications about the potential ocular side effects. It would also be wise to offer treatment, such as meibomian gland expression, if the agents are going to used, because any kind of instigatorbe it decreased aqueous production or increased evaporative stressleads to more progressive types of DED.

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Dry sinus can make you uncomfortable and cause other issues that disrupt your daily life. Whether you suffer from dryness due to allergies, dry climate, or another underlying cause, the experienced ENT specialists at Advanced ENT & Allergy know how to get to the root of the problem. Well help you understand the source of your dry sinuses, discuss all of your treatment options, then help you select the treatment that fits your needs and lifestyle. Stop suffering from dry sinuses and find lasting relief with experts in the field.

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Why Do My Allergies Cause Dry Eyes

Do you have allergies? During allergy season, do you develop dry eye symptoms as well?

Dry eyes and allergies are two of the most common eye conditions. Both have similar symptoms and result in severe eye irritation.

To treat allergies and dry eyes, there are easy treatments and lifestyle changes you can put in place. Keep reading to find out why allergies can cause dry eye symptoms!

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Allergy As A Potential Contributor To Meibomian Gland Remodeling

Differentiating ocular allergy from DED and other ocular surface conditions is challenging, but emerging evidence seems to suggest that meibomian gland morphology may change as a potential consequence of chronic allergies, which in turn potentiates the eye toward DED .1 Longitudinal data are needed to support this theory.

Figure 1. A 22-year-old Asian woman symptomatic for chronic allergy exhibits changes in meibomian gland morphology.

Figure 2. This 23-year-old Asian woman symptomatic for chronic allergy also exhibits changes in meibomian gland morphology.

Another aspect of the aforementioned study that bears further exploration is that gland tortuosity was identified in the meibomian glands of pediatric patients as young as 7 years of age with allergic conjunctivitis.1 Although it has long been suspected that diminished meibomian gland capacity and subsequent tear film dysfunction might predispose a person to an allergic response, this is yet another way to further examine the effects of long-term ocular allergy and its contribution to more severe allergy subtypes such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis.2

How Is Allergic Conjunctivitis Treated

Oftentimes with allergy symptoms, the best course of action is to simply avoid whatever triggers an allergic reactionfor instance, if you’re allergic to cats and you know your friend has a cat, suggest a meeting place outside their home so you don’t risk having an allergic reaction to their pet. The same goes for allergic conjunctivitis, Kanwaljit Brar, MD, an allergist at NYU Langone, tells Health. “The best approach is to be preventative,” Dr. Brar explains.

Experts advise making an appointment with an allergist if you find that you frequently suffer from allergic conjunctivitisif your eyelids start swelling and your eyes start watering at seemingly random timesand you have no clue what your allergen is. “If you see an allergist, you can identify what you’re allergic to we can predict when patients’ symptoms will ,” says Dr. Brar.

From there, an allergist can help you make simple lifestyle changes that eliminate allergic conjunctivitis and other allergy-related issues, says Dr. Hajee. So if your allergist tests you and determines that pollen is likely what’s triggering your symptoms, they can advise you to stay inside during certain times of the day when the pollen count in your region is highest, says Dr. Brar. By tweaking your routine by, say, going on your outdoor run at a different time when the pollen count is typically lower, your symptoms might lessen without the use of medication.

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Chemical And Environmental Irritants

Many chemicals and products for cleaning, home repair, and more can irritate your nasal passages and sinuses. This can cause you to have dry sinuses, sore throat, dry nose, nosebleeds, or other symptoms similar to allergies. Some chemicals and products that can irritate your sinuses include:

• household cleaning products
• industrial irritants
• paint or varnish fumes

There are many ways you can treat dry sinuses at home to alleviate discomfort caused by seasonal allergies, irritation from chemicals, or drying from medications or dry air. To get relief, you can:

• place a humidifier in your bedroom at night to keep the air from getting too dry
• stop taking drying medications, such as antihistamines
• drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
• get some fresh air if the air in your house is stale or stagnant
• remove as many allergens and irritants from your environment as possible
• irrigate your sinuses with sterile saline using a neti pot or similar product
• use nasal spray to hydrate and lubricate your nasal passages and sinuses
• take a hot shower and inhale the steam

In some cases, your doctor might need to recommend treatment for your dry sinuses. Make an appointment with your doctor if you:

• have an autoimmune disorder like Sjögren syndrome
• are taking prescription medication that causes dry sinuses
• think you might have a sinus infection

Your doctor may:

What Are Eye Allergy Symptoms

When you have eye allergies, the mast cells lining the conjunctiva release histamine when exposed to allergens and irritants. Those allergens and irritants cause the conjunctiva to swell and symptoms of eye allergies to occur.

Common symptoms include:

• red, irritated, teary and itchy eyes
• burning

Hot, dry weather dries out the eyes and makes eye allergy symptoms worse.

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How Are Dry Eyes And Eye Allergies Treated

If your symptoms are related to eye allergies, your eye doctor may recommend starting with over-the-counter anti-allergy eye drops.

Anti-allergy eye drops contain an antihistamine to counteract the allergic response. Some anti-allergy eye drops may also include a formula to reduce redness and whiten the eyes. But while this may sound good, be aware that these drops may dry out your eyes causing further discomfort.

For increased hydration and comfort while using anti-allergy eye drops, many eye doctors will also recommend using artificial tears. These are available as eyes drops, gels, and ointments and can be used as needed, throughout the day.

Your eye doctor may also discuss some lifestyle changes as well, to limit your exposure to known allergens.

If OTC medications do not provide enough relief, medicated eye drops or oral medications will be prescribed to help control your allergy symptoms and alleviate your discomfort.

Dry eye symptoms may require a different type of treatment plan, depending on the severity of your symptoms. Your eye doctor may recommend an OTC artificial tears solution to keep your eyes moist and hydrated throughout the day, or may prescribe a medicated or steroid eye drop to alleviate severe dry eye symptoms.

In some cases, your eye doctor may recommend alternative in-office treatments, such as LipiFlow, True Tear, TearCare, punctal plugs, blephasteam, blephex, or intense pulse light to alleviate chronic or moderate to severe dry eye conditions.

Contact Allergic And Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis

Contact allergic conjunctivitis occurs when the eye comes into direct contact with a foreign object, such as a contact lens.

Symptoms of contact allergic conjunctivitis can include:

• discomfort or pain from wearing contact lenses
• itchiness

A person can take steps at home to help manage and treat their dry eyes. This involves a combination of controlling their environment and using over-the-counter and prescription medications.

The ACAAI recommend reducing allergic triggers in the environment by:

• wearing glasses instead of contacts
• washing hands after handling a pet
• using a dehumidifier to control mold in the house
• staying inside as much as possible during times of high pollen and closing windows
• wearing sunglasses or glasses outside to help prevent pollen from getting into the eye
• using mite-proof bedding and keeping living areas clean

In addition to limiting exposure to allergens, people can talk to their doctor about OTC and prescription medications for their dry eyes. Some potential options include:

A person could also try natural remedies, such as:

• massaging the eyes to stimulate tear production
• using a warm compress on the eyes

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What Really Causes Dry Eye

Dry eye is ultimately due to 2 factors: low tear quality or low tear quantity. Without the right amount of tears or without the right tear composition, your eyes will ultimately end up feeling dry and irritated. A number of factors can cause dry eye. You might be familiar with some of the well-known causes like contact lenses, but you might not know how many other factors can lead to dry eye.

How Can You Avoid Eye Problems

You can minimize your risks for both eye allergies and infections. Keeping windows shut and other easily implemented strategies can help you survive seasonal allergies, while an air purifier can help you cope with indoor allergies. Conjunctivitis is the most common eye infection, caused by a virus or bacteria. Either way, its easily spread.

You can minimize your risks for both eye allergies and infections. Keeping windows shut and other easily implemented strategies can help you survive seasonal allergies, while an air purifier can help you cope with indoor allergies.

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye infection, caused by a virus or bacteria. Either way, its easily spread.

Frequent hand washing is just one way to help prevent pink eye and other contagious diseases. Taking care with makeup and contact lenses also helps prevent bacterial pink eye from spreading.

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Eye Allergies Vs Dry Eyes

Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, develop when the eyes react to certain allergens in the environment, such as dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander.

If your eye symptoms develop along with nasal congestion, sneezing, a runny nose or an itchy throat, there is a good chance that your eye symptoms are related to allergies.

Dry eyes develop when the quality or quantity of your tears are reduced.

In order to stay hydrated and moist, the eyes need to constantly produce new tears that consist of three layers: an oil layer, a mucus layer, and a water layer. If any of these layers are compromised, the quality of the tears will diminish. This can cause the tears to evaporate too quickly and consequently lead to dry eyes.

Dry eye symptoms, though similar to eye allergy symptoms, will also usually include eye pain, significant eye irritation and dryness.

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition that can be hereditary or caused by your environment, lifestyle habits, certain medications, or age.

If you feel you have allergy eyes, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

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It helps relieve itching and redness it works quickly and is reasonably affordable, resulting in a redness rebound. This product may take longer. This company has provided eye health for decades and offers numerous formulations of drops for virtually any eye problem. You may recall that eyedrops are available at an incredibly cheap rate. Because theyre relatively affordable, they provide a wide variety of eye drops for allergies without spending too many dollars.

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