Eye allergies are common during allergy season, when trees, grasses, and flowers bloom. It’s also a time when warmer temperatures encourage many people to head outdoors.
However, if you don’t take the proper precautions to protect yourself, exposure to these allergens can leave your eyes feeling itchy, watery, or irritated.
In honor of Allergy Awareness Month, the 2020 Family Vision team, serving patients in Novi, Lake Orion, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hill, and Ypsilanti, Michigan, has drafted this guide to eye allergy prevention.
Keep reading to learn the causes of eye allergies, common symptoms, and steps you can take to minimize uncomfortable symptoms.
Eye allergies occur when your immune system identifies substances, such as pollen, pet dander, mold, or dust, as potentially harmful invaders. This triggers a defense mechanism and causes your body to release histamine, leading to eye irritation.
Because eye allergies can present similar symptoms to pink eye and other eye infections, it’s important to schedule an eye exam early to rule out other causes. Confirming your diagnosis can also provide relief sooner and help prevent irritation from worsening.
During allergy season, eye allergies are typically triggered by:
However, they can also happen throughout the year due to smoke, perfume, or pollution.
Eye allergy symptoms range from mild to severe. Signs to watch out for include:
If these symptoms last for more than a day or two, don’t wait to schedule an evaluation with our team. Persistent eye allergies can make daily tasks, such as driving or doing yardwork, challenging, so it’s important to take action.
More than 22 million Americans experience eye allergies. The good news is that there’s plenty you can do to prevent uncomfortable symptoms. Here’s how to get started:
Allergies typically flare up in the morning and late afternoon, when pollen counts are highest.
Avoid going outdoors during these windows if at all possible. Likewise, keep your windows and screen doors closed to prevent dust or pollen from being carried on the wind and into your home.
If you have to go outside during these periods, wear sunglasses or other protective eyewear. This can block pollen from making direct contact with your eyes.
You know to wash your hands to prevent germs, but this practice can also limit your exposure to allergens.
If you spend a few hours gardening or doing yardwork, wash your hands thoroughly. It can also help to take a quick shower to rinse off any pollen or mold spores that got under your clothes.
Pollen and pet dander are microscopic, so they often build up on surfaces inside homes. Changing your HVAC filters regularly and running an air purifier in the kitchen and living room can help remove allergens from the air.
You can make these practices even more effective by dusting and vacuuming regularly.
Many people with eye allergies only experience symptoms occasionally. If you experience flare-ups from time to time, make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked with over-the-counter eye drops and antihistamines.
These products can help ease redness, watery eyes, and itching, providing relief for hours.
If you have severe seasonal allergies, we can provide prescription-strength eye drops or coordinate more specialized care with your allergist.
Sometimes, the best way to treat eye allergies is with a cold compress. Simply take a clean washcloth, hold it under cool, running water from the faucet or bathtub, and wring it out. Then, place the damp washcloth over your eyes and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
This reduces inflammation and restricts blood vessels, easing itchiness, redness, and irritation. Although they aren’t a permanent fix, cold compresses are an effective way to stop flare-ups from worsening.
Most cases are mild and improve with at-home care, but contact us if your symptoms persist or worsen. Because May is Allergy Awareness Month, now is a great time to manage allergies and protect your vision.
Call the nearest office today to make an appointment, or book your visit online. After an eye exam and allergy testing, we can make personalized treatment recommendations.
