How To Help Itchy Eyes From Allergies

When To Contact A Medical Professional

• You have symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis that do not respond to self-care steps and over-the-counter treatment.
• Your vision is affected.
• You develop eye pain that is severe or becoming worse.
• Your eyelids or the skin around your eyes becomes swollen or red.
• You have a headache in addition to your other symptoms.

How Are Itchy Eyes Treated

It is important to see your pharmacist or optometrist to work out the cause of your itchy eyes.

Itching caused by an allergy can be helped with antihistamine or anti-inflammatory eye drops. It can help to use artificial tears to wash away any allergens on the surface of your eye. Sometimes you may need to take an oral antihistamine.

If you have something in your eye, try to wash it out with warm water or a saline solution. If that doesnt work, you should see a doctor within 24 hours.

How Can I Find Relief From My Itchy Allergy Eyes

Allergy symptoms in the eyes theyre not something to scratch at. Called allergic conjunctivitis, some allergy sufferers experience a variety of symptoms in their eyes during allergy season. For those with indoor allergies, allergic conjunctivitis can stick around all year. Learn more about eye allergy symptoms and ways to prevent the itch and irritation in this blog.

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What’s Causing Your Itching Teary Eyes

Do your eyes itch after youve been near a cat? Do they puff up or run with tears when pollen is in the air?

Allergies of the eye affect about 20% to 40% of Americans each year and are on the rise. The same inhaled airborne allergenspollens, animal dander, dust mite feces, and moldthat trigger allergic rhinitis can lead to allergic conjunctivitis . Both conditions are IgE-mediated allergic responses. Its not surprising that people with one of these conditions often suffer from the other as well. Some 95% of people with allergic conjunctivitis have allergic rhinitis, according to one estimate.

Allergic conjunctivitis, also called ocular allergy, is predominantly a disease of young adults, as symptoms typically decrease with age. More than half of eye allergies are seasonal the rest are perennial. The symptoms are itchy and red eyes, tearing, edema of the conjunctiva or eyelid, and a mucous discharge. Although it can be uncomfortable, you can rest assured that uncomplicated allergic conjunctivitis is not a threat to vision.

Flush Irritants Away With Saline Drops Or Artificial Tears

Normal saline drops or artificial tears can be used to flush away irritants that can cause inflammation. While there are many DIYs to make saline drops at home, its critical that you do this in a sterile environment and ensure all utensils and ingredients are uncontaminated. You could also use simple store-bought ones instead. Also, clean your eyelids and the area around your eyes with a wet washcloth to remove any allergens if youve been outside.3

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Diagnosis And Treatment Of Eye Allergies In Kids

If your child has never experienced eye allergies before, talk with their pediatrician about their symptoms. Eye allergies are diagnosed based on your child’s symptoms. Allergy tests are rarely needed.

After eye allergies are diagnosed, your child’s doctor will recommend management. Follow-up care will only be necessary if the treatment is not working.

In most cases, eye allergies are treated using over-the-counter drugs and lifestyle adjustments to limit exposure to allergens.

For severe allergies, your child’s doctor might recommend prescription medications or an allergy shot.

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 Allergy Treatment And Tips

The best way to treat eye allergies is to mitigate exposure to the allergens causing the issue. This can be especially true if you have seasonal allergies. Try to limit time outdoors when pollen is at its peak, and clean your air filters in the fall and winter to help prevent cold-weather allergies.

Treating Your Own Eye Allergies

Get off to a good start by avoiding whatever youâre allergic to. You can also try these tips:

Minimize clutter where allergens can collect. Limit pillows, bedding, draperies, and other linens, such as dust ruffles and canopies. Also, keep knick-knacks to a minimum, since they can collect dust.

Go with as little carpeting as possible. The carpet can harbor dust mites.

Clean regularly and thoroughly. Thatâll help limit dust and mold.

Get rid of any water leaks and standing water. Both encourage mold growth.

Use barriers and filters. Shield mattresses and pillows with covers that block allergens. Use allergen filters in both the furnace and the air conditioner in your home. Also, be sure to change them regularly. Keep outdoor allergens outdoors by keeping windows and doors closed.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy or possible to avoid the things that trigger your allergies. If that’s the case for you, these at-home treatments may give you some relief:

Apply cool compresses to your eyes to ease the allergic reaction.

Use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops.

Use over-the-counter medications, like allergy eye drops and oral antihistamines for mild allergies.

Try not to rub your eyes, since that can make your symptoms worse.

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Have Mandarin Orange Yogurt To Control The Allergy

Combine the power of mandarin orange and yogurt to rid yourself of an eye allergy. A study looked at the effect of this delicious treat on people who suffered seasonal allergic conjunctivitis due to cedar pollen. It was found that itching, redness, and swelling of eyelid was significantly lower in those who had mandarin orange yogurt than in the control group which had plain yogurt. Researchers concluded that the combined effect of protein -lactoglobulin from yogurt and flavonoid nobiletin in mandarin oranges helped suppress the allergic reaction.9

Dog Eye Allergies Vs Infection: How To Tell Them Apart

The main difference between dog eye allergies vs. infection is that dogs can get allergies from environmental factors . In contrast, a dog can get eye infections from bacteria, viruses, fungus, or trauma to the eye.Allergies are often mistaken for an eye infection due to the similarity in their symptoms.

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What Causes The Dark Blue

This is called the allergic shiner when theres swelling of tissue and fluid buildup in and around the eyes, blood starts to pool, darkening the skin and creating dark circles. The allergic shiner is also a common sign of environmental allergies to pollen, dust mites or pet dander, and it can also indicate food allergy.

Keeping The Eye Area Clean

Dirt, chemicals, and makeup can all cause itchy eyes.

Keeping the eyes clean at night can help relieve the itch. Firstly, a person may need to flush the irritant from the eye with cool water to clean the eye area.

Sometimes, gently rinsing the eyes with warm water on a washcloth may be enough.

People who wear makeup should consider removing all their makeup before cleaning the eye.

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What Is The Treatment For Eye Allergies

The first and best option is to avoid contact with substances that trigger your eye allergies. If that is not enough, consider using:

• Saline eye drops to wash away the allergens
• Over-the-counter medicine or eye drops
• Prescription treatments from your doctor
• Allergy shots from your doctor

Eye allergy symptoms may disappear completely when the allergen is removed or after the allergy is treated. Talk to your pharmacist and health care provider about what is best for you.

How Is The Cause Of Itchy Eyes Diagnosed

If youve noticed that your eyes are itchy at night, you may want to visit your doctor or ophthalmologist. After explaining your symptoms, your doctor will ask for your medical history and give you a physical exam.

Patch tests can be useful with diagnosing allergies. Your doctor may also examine your eyelids and swab your skin to test any oil or crust that has accumulated. It may be helpful for you to write down anything in your nightly routine that might be triggering your itching. You can share this information with your doctor to help with diagnosis.

The treatment for itchy eyes at night depends on the underlying cause.

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Home Remedies For Itchy Eyes

While you may not know exactly what is causing your itchy eyes right away, there are some things you can do to help alleviate the problem.

• Apply a warm or cool compress. A warm compress may help relieve itchy eyes caused by allergies, and a cool compress can be of relief for eyes that are swollen and red.
• Keep your eyes clean. This might be an obvious one, but keeping your eye and the area around your eye free of dirt, dust, and other particles may help alleviate some of the itchiness. Those who wear makeup should make sure to remove it before you go to sleep.
• Utilize a humidifier. If you have dry, itchy eyes, it could be caused by dry air. Try using a humidifier to put some moisture back into the air and potentially help relieve your symptoms.
• Dont use contacts for a while. If your contact lenses have been bothering you, try using glasses for a while and see if that helps. If your eyes are itchy sometimes contacts can make it worse. If you think contacts may be the culprit to your irritated eyes, try speaking to your doctor about switching to a different kind.
• Avoid allergens when possible. It might be hard in the spring and fall to avoid going outside completely, but when indoors try keeping the windows closed to prevent pollen from getting into the home. Regularly dust and vacuum, as well.

If you follow home remedies but are still experiencing persisting symptoms, head to the nearest Urgency Room.

Allergies And Itchy Eyes

Eye allergies, also called allergic conjunctivitis, occur when the eyes react to an environmental irritant or allergen. Allergies, in general, are a hyperactive response by our immune system to common particles floating around in the air. People without allergies have immune systems that simply ignore these potential allergens, but for those of us with allergiesour bodies go into overdrive!

When an allergen comes in contact with the eyes of an allergic person, the immune system identifies the intruder as harmful and the eyes release potent chemicals to try to fight it off. One of these chemicals is called histamine, the neurotransmitter that triggers most allergy symptoms like sneezing, a runny nose, itchy skin, coughing, and breathing issues. Histamine in the eyes leads to redness, itchiness, light sensitivity, and wateringall of which can make life miserable.

Some allergens that can cause itchy eyes are:

• Hives or itchy skin

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Medical Treatment For Eye Allergies

Lots of over-the-counter meds, like allergy or antihistamine eye drops as well as antihistamines you take by mouth, can help against mild allergies. Follow the directions on the packages exactly.

Prescription eye drops usually work well, and most donât have side effects. Many of them are taken twice a day, and can be used to prevent an allergic reaction. Some common ones include:

How To Treat Dry Itchy Eyes

Do NOT Rub Your Eyes

It is important to avoid rubbing or itching your eyes as much as possible when you experience discomfort. Forcefully rubbing your eyes can be extremely damaging to this sensitive part of your bodyespecially if the cause of your itchiness is a foreign object in your eye. Rubbing can scratch your cornea, which leads to more serious issues.

Apply a Cold Compress

Closing your eyes and placing a clean, cold, damp washcloth over your eyes can immediately alleviate the symptoms of itchy eyes. This reduces inflammation and itchiness in and around the eyes. While a cold compress wont address your symptoms long-term, it can be soothing to the eyes and repeated as many times as needed.

Treat Your Allergies

If you suspect that allergies are causing your itchy eyes, we recommend meeting with an experienced ENT specialist to get to the root of the issue and find the best solution for your allergy symptoms. Its difficult to truly treat allergies without identifying specific allergens. At Advanced ENT & Allergy, we start by testing for allergies to determine your exact triggers. With this information, we can offer several individualized treatment options that may include:

Avoid Irritants

Antihistamine Medications

Antihistamine Eye Drops

Allergy Drops Can Cure Allergies & Treat Symptoms

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What Can I Do Instead Of Rubbing My Eyes

If you really need to, here are some less harmful ways of rubbing or touching your eyes : Instill sterile saline or artificial tears instead when there is an urge to rub. Gently applying a clean, wet facecloth to your eyes to help refresh your eyes or reduce itch. Use gel eye-masks and apply it cold to closed eyes.

Preventing Itchy And Runny Eyes

Theres no doubt that the spring and fall often bring about those nagging seasonal allergies we all try to avoid. With it comes annoying symptoms such as itchy and runny or watery eyes. Although, allergies might not be the only thing causing you to rub your eyes constantly or feel like you need to put eye drops in every five minutes. Itchy or runny eyes are a pesky problem that can seem to never end, but knowing the cause of your eye troubles can often help decide which remedies will be useful or if you need to see a doctor.

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Causes Of Eye Allergies

That layer of skin covering the front of your eyes? Itâs the same type of skin that lines the inside of your nose. Because these two areas are so similar, the same things can trigger allergic reactions in both places.

Common triggers include:

If you have seasonal allergies, you generally have symptoms for a short time. You may be bothered in the spring by tree pollen, in the summer by grass pollen, or in the fall by weed pollen. The symptoms tend to clear up during other times of the year, especially in the winter.

If you have “perennial allergies,” your symptoms probably last all year. You’re likely allergic to indoor things, like dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander. Seasonal outdoor allergens may make things worse if youâre sensitive to them, too.

The Difference Between Eye Allergies And Pink Eye

Eye allergies are caused by a reaction to allergens in the air while pink eye is most often caused by bacterial infections and viruses. Allergies usually cause irritation in both eyes while pink eye often occurs in one and then spreads to the other. Unlike pink eye, eye allergies are not contagious and will last only as long as youre exposed to the allergen.

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Allergies Or Infection Heres How You Can Tell

Whether ragweed or pet dander is the culprit, allergens affect the eyes in the same way.

Eye infections can come from many causes virus, bacteria, parasite or fungus and the symptoms vary with the cause, but in general, infections have a longer list of symptoms when compared to allergies.

The bottom line is that if anything more than tear-like fluids come from your eye or you feel eye pain, its likely more than allergies.

To get the right treatment, youll need your eye doctor to find out whats behind your eye problem. Eye allergies arent contagious but they can be miserable to deal with. If its an infection, you run the risk of damaging your eye and/or spreading it to others.

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.

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