Do your eyes sometimes get red, itchy, and watery for no apparent reason? Just like allergies that cause sneezing and runny noses, our eyes can also get allergies. This is a really annoying condition. But the good news is that the same treatments and remedies for other allergies can help control these eye allergies. So let's get to know more about this.
What are the symptoms of eye allergies?
Medically, this condition is called ``Allergic Conjunctivitis.'' This does not cause any significant damage to the eyes, but it can temporarily blur vision. Sometimes, symptoms can begin immediately after the allergen comes into contact with the eye. In other people, symptoms may appear two to three days later.
These are the symptoms that are usually seen:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Eye redness and inflammation | The white part of the eye becomes red, yellow, or feels inflamed. |
| Severe itching | The main symptom is the constant urge to rub or scratch your eyes. |
| Tears flowing | Tears are constantly flowing from the eyes. |
| Eyelid swelling | Swollen and heavy eyelids, as if upon waking up in the morning. |
| Pain or inflammation | A burning or stinging sensation coming from within. |
| Being sensitive to the outside | Difficulty focusing on sunlight or bright light. |
Often, along with these eye symptoms, you may also have other allergy symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose , and sneezing.
Why do we get eye allergies like this?
Simply put, it's like any other allergy. Our body's defense system, the immune system, mistakes something that's actually harmless (like pollen or dust) for a big enemy.
Think of our body as a fortress, and our immune system as its guards. When a normally harmless particle of dust enters our eyes, these guards get alarmed, thinking it is a big invader and start a fight. In this fight, they release large amounts of chemicals like histamine . This histamine is the main reason why our eyes become red, itchy, and watery.
Are there any types of allergies?
Yes, there are mainly two types.
1. Seasonal Allergies: This is the most common type. It increases during certain times of the year, especially when trees are in bloom, when it is dry, and when it is windy. The main cause is things like pollen and mold spores in the air.
2. Perennial Allergies: This type of allergy can be present more or less throughout the year. The main causes of this are things that are inside the house. For example:
- Dust mites: Tiny, invisible creatures that live in our bedding, mattresses, pillows, and sofas.
- Animal fur/skin: Small pieces of skin shed by pets (dogs, cats).
- Other things: Some perfumes, smoke, air pollution, cosmetics, and some medications can also cause this.
Sometimes it's easy to figure out what's causing your allergies. For example, if your eyes itch only when you go outside on a windy day, it could be pollen. If it only gets worse when you pet a cat, it could be cat dander. But if the cause isn't clear, your doctor can do tests to help you figure out what's causing it.
Things you can do at home to control allergies
Before undergoing treatment, it is best to stay as far away from allergy triggers as possible.
The most important thing is not to rub your eyes with your hands when you rub them. Doing so will only make the condition worse. Instead, soak a clean cloth in cold water and place it over your eyes. This will provide great relief.
Here are some other things you can do:
| Trigger | What can be done? |
|---|---|
| Things in the outside environment (e.g. pollen ) | |
| When going out | Pollen is highest in the morning and evening. Stay indoors as much as possible during those times. Close the windows and turn on the AC. If you go outside, wear sunglasses or large glasses. |
| When traveling in a vehicle | Close the windows and turn on the AC. |
| Things inside the house (e.g. dust mites, fungus) | |
| Bedroom | Use special pillowcases and mattress covers that protect against dust mites (allergen-proof covers). Wash bedding regularly in hot water . |
| House cleaning | Mop the floor with a damp mop rather than sweeping it with a broom, as sweeping will stir up dust. Use easy-to-clean floors like tile or wood instead of carpet. |
| Moisture and fungus | Keep the humidity in your home below 50%. Use a dehumidifier if necessary. Use a bleach solution when cleaning areas like the bathroom and kitchen. |
| Pets | If you have an animal allergy, avoid bringing them into the bedroom. |
What are the treatments and medications for this?
If home remedies don't help, you can seek help from medication. But remember, it's always best to consult your doctor before using any medication, especially eye medication.
- Saline & Lubricant Eyedrops: These help to flush out allergens that have entered the eye and reduce dryness and inflammation of the eye.
- Decongestant Eyedrops: These reduce redness in the eyes. However, they do not relieve other symptoms such as itching. The most important thing is that if you continue to use them for more than a few days, your eyes may become even redder than before (rebound redness). Therefore, you should use them with caution.
- Ketotifen eye drops: These provide relief for about 12 hours. Even with prolonged use, the "rebound redness" mentioned earlier does not occur. You will feel even more relief if you keep these in the refrigerator.
- Nasal Steroid Sprays: If you have a stuffy nose and runny nose along with eye pain, nasal steroid sprays such as Flonase, Rhinocort can provide relief to your nose and eyes.
- Oral Antihistamines: Oral antihistamines like `Cetirizine (Zyrtec)` and `Loratadine (Claritin)` also help. These are less sleepy than older medications. However, these medications can cause dry eyes. Therefore, people with dry eye conditions should be careful with these.
A specific medicine recommended by a doctor
If your allergies are not controlled with regular medications, your doctor may prescribe special medications. These should only be used under medical advice.
- Mast Cell Stabilizer Eye Drops: Medications like `Cromolyn` and `Lodoxamide (Alomide)` belong to this category. Although these take a little longer to work, the relief is longer.
- Ketorolac (Acular): This quickly reduces eye itching. However, you may feel a slight burning sensation when you apply it to your eyes.
- Steroid Eyedrops: Medications like Loteprednol (Alrex) are used for very severe, long-lasting allergies. They can cause side effects, so they are only used for a very short time, under medical supervision.
Allergy Shots
If you still can't control your allergies despite all of this, your doctor may recommend allergy shots. This involves injecting your body with very small amounts of the allergen over a period of time, allowing your body to become accustomed to it.
Take-Home Message
- Try to identify the cause of your eye allergies. Is it dust, pollen, or a pet?
- The best and safest way is to stay as far away from the allergen as possible.
- Never rub your eyes with your hands when scratching them. Instead, dab your eyes with a clean cloth soaked in cold water.
- Keep your home clean. Wash bedding, especially in the bedroom, regularly in hot water.
- Before using any type of eye drop or other medication, be sure to consult your doctor.
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