Do you know the causes of eye allergies? You may suffer from seasonal allergies when the weather is warm and the pollen is flying or when you are cooped up indoors with drier, dustier air in winter. The causes of eye allergies can often be the same as other allergies and are sometimes hard to figure out at first.
What Is an Eye Allergy?
An eye allergy is known as allergic conjunctivitis. According to MedLine Plus, this occurs when the clear layer of tissue lining the eyelids and covering the whites of the eye (conjunctiva) become swollen or inflamed due to a reaction to a substance. Just like other allergies, this contact triggers your body to release histamine, which produces the redness, itchiness, and watery eyes.
What Causes an Eye Allergy?
Something that can cause an allergy is called an allergen. Allergens can be anything from environmental factors to cosmetics to pet dander. Here are some of the most common causes of eye allergies:
- Pollen (from grass, trees, and flowers)
- Ragweed (especially bad in the fall)
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold
- Cosmetics (including eye makeup, soaps, and perfumes)
- Eye drops and artificial tears that contain preservatives
The best way to figure out what is causing your eye allergy is by process of elimination. If your eyes just became red and itchy after you changed shampoos, perfumes, or eye makeup then chances are that might be the culprit. Environmental factors are harder to determine, but if you notice your symptoms are worse when you’re outside or during a certain time of year, that may point to pollen or ragweed. Indoor triggers can often be dust mites and pet dander, so cleaning often and keeping your face away from pets may help reduce exposure.
How Do I Treat or Prevent an Eye Allergy?
Just like anything that causes an allergic reaction, the best advice is to figure out what the allergen is and try to avoid it. This isn’t always possible, but there are steps you can take to limit your exposure.
- Dust and vacuum often and wash bed linens frequently—especially if you have pets.
- Buy allergy reduction filters for your furnace and air conditioning and change them regularly.
- Leave windows closed in summer and use air conditioning to reduce pollen and mold exposure.
- Buy ophthalmologist-tested eye makeup and removers to avoid irritants.
Sometimes contact lens surfaces can be exposed to and trap airborne allergens like dust and pollen. If you find your eye allergies are worse during warm weather months, switch to glasses or to daily disposable contact lenses. For relief, you can find over-the-counter allergy eye drops that can relieve itchiness and redness. For more severe reactions, your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops that contain an antihistamine, anti-inflammatory drug, or steroid for short-term use. Over-the-counter allergy pills that contain antihistamines or decongestants may also be helpful in reducing eye allergy symptoms.
For questions or comments, contact Woodhams Eye Clinic.
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