Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsAccompanying SymptomsWorsening SymptomsReliefSymptoms Not Improving
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Accompanying Symptoms
Worsening Symptoms
Relief
Symptoms Not Improving
Eye allergies, sometimes called allergic conjunctivitis, typically occur due to an allergic reaction to irritants likepollen, dust, mold, and pet hair.
When you come into contact withallergens, your immune system may overreact, leading to inflammation of the eyelids and conjunctiva (the mucous membrane that lines the eyeball and eyelids). This causes common eye allergy symptoms like watering, itchiness, redness, pain, and swelling.
This article will go over the symptoms of eye allergies, as well as how to find relief and when to see a healthcare provider.
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Telltale Eye Allergy Symptoms
Common eye allergy symptoms symptoms include:
These symptoms typically occur in both eyes. If only one of your eyes is irritated, you may have a different condition, such aspink eye (conjunctivitis).
Accompanying Symptoms With Eye Allergies
Allergic conjunctivitis often occurs alongside other allergy symptoms, such as:
What Makes Eye Allergy Symptoms Worse?
Depending on what’s causing your symptoms, you may have seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) or perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Environmental allergens like pollen cause seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and are typically more severe, especially duringhay feverseason. Household allergens like pet dander usually cause perennial allergic conjunctivitis and don’t tend to be quite as bothersome.
Certain medications can also exacerbate eye allergy symptoms. For example, many people take oral antihistamines to treat allergic reactions, but they can dry out your eyes and worsen eye irritation.
Does Itching Make Eye Allergy Symptoms Worse?When your eyes are inflamed and irritated, it’s important to resist the temptation to scratch them. Rubbing your eyes can make your symptoms worse and lead to complications like a scratched cornea, infections, or cataracts.
Does Itching Make Eye Allergy Symptoms Worse?
When your eyes are inflamed and irritated, it’s important to resist the temptation to scratch them. Rubbing your eyes can make your symptoms worse and lead to complications like a scratched cornea, infections, or cataracts.
Relief for Eye Allergy Symptoms
There are both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments available to help relieve eye allergy symptoms. Examples include:
Eye Allergies in ChildrenLike adults, children with eye allergies can be treated with artificial tears. If those don’t work to provide relief, take your child to an ophthalmologist. They may recommend antihistamine or mast cell stabilizer eye drops.
Eye Allergies in Children
Like adults, children with eye allergies can be treated with artificial tears. If those don’t work to provide relief, take your child to an ophthalmologist. They may recommend antihistamine or mast cell stabilizer eye drops.
Eye Allergy Symptoms Not Improving
The most common reason that your eye allergy symptoms may persist is that you’re still coming into contact with the allergen that’s causing them. Here are a few ways to avoid the allergens that most often cause eye irritation:
Your symptoms may also persist if you have a type of eye allergy other than allergic conjunctivitis. Other types of eye allergies, such asatopic keratoconjunctivitisandvernal keratoconjunctivitis, are usually more severe. Some can affect your vision if left untreated.
Visit an ophthalmologist or another healthcare provider right away if you experience:
Summary
Eye allergies aren’t contagious, and they usually aren’t a sign of a serious health condition. However, you should talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms keep getting worse or aren’t going away.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Common eye symptoms could be an allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are eye allergies?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Eye allergy.Huang CC, Yang W, Guo C, et al.Anatomical and functional dichotomy of ocular itch and pain.Nat Med. 2018;24(8):1268-1276. doi:10.1038/s41591-018-0083-x
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Common eye symptoms could be an allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are eye allergies?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Eye allergy.Huang CC, Yang W, Guo C, et al.Anatomical and functional dichotomy of ocular itch and pain.Nat Med. 2018;24(8):1268-1276. doi:10.1038/s41591-018-0083-x
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Common eye symptoms could be an allergy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis).American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are eye allergies?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Eye allergy.Huang CC, Yang W, Guo C, et al.Anatomical and functional dichotomy of ocular itch and pain.Nat Med. 2018;24(8):1268-1276. doi:10.1038/s41591-018-0083-x
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Common eye symptoms could be an allergy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis).
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are eye allergies?
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Eye allergy.
Huang CC, Yang W, Guo C, et al.Anatomical and functional dichotomy of ocular itch and pain.Nat Med. 2018;24(8):1268-1276. doi:10.1038/s41591-018-0083-x
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