If you suffer from eye allergies, you know how miserable they can make you feel. Your eyes may itch, water, and become red and swollen. You may also have burning, stinging, or a sensation of having something in your eyes. At Clinton Eye Associates serving Clinton, CT, we understand how allergies can impact your eye health, and we want to help. Read on for our top tips for treating and managing your allergies.
What Causes Eye Allergies?
Eye allergies are caused by a reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, and animal dander. When these allergens come into contact with your eyes, they trigger an immune response. Symptoms usually appear within minutes to hours after exposure and can last as long as two weeks.
Common symptoms include itchy eyes, watery eyes, sensitivity to light, red or swollen eyes, and burning or stinging eyes. You may also experience a stuffy nose, sneezing, or itchy nose and throat in addition to your eye symptoms. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you’ll likely only experience symptoms during the spring or fall when pollen levels are high. However, if you have year-round allergies, you may experience symptoms year-round.
Tips for Treating Eye Allergies
There is no cure for eye allergies, but there are things you can do to minimize your symptoms and get relief. You may also need to start searching for an “optometrist near me.” Here are our tips:
Avoid triggers if possible: If you know what causes your symptoms (e.g., pollen), try to avoid triggers if possible by staying indoors on days when pollen levels are high and keeping windows shut in your home and car.
Rinse away irritants: After being outdoors, take a shower and wash your hair to remove any pollen that might be clinging to you. You can also rinse your eyes with plain water to remove any irritants that may have collected on your eyelashes during the day.
Use artificial tears: Artificial tears can help wash away irritants from your eyes and provide temporary relief from symptoms like stinging and burning eyes. It can be a good idea to look for a hypoallergenic artificial tear solution made specifically for people with eye allergies since standard artificial tears can actually make symptoms worse by containing preservatives that can irritate sensitive eyes.
Apply cool compresses: Applying a cool compress to your eyes several times a day can help reduce swelling and soothe itchiness. Simply soak a clean cloth in cold water, then place it over your closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes at a time.
See an allergy specialist: If over-the-counter treatments don’t provide eye allergy relief or if your symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily activities like going to work or school, it’s time to see an optometrist. An optometry expert can provide stronger medication options like prescription eye drops or oral antihistamines specifically for treating eye allergies.
Visit Us for More Information
If you’re one of the many Americans who suffer from eye allergies, we hope these tips will help give you some eye allergy relief. We are your “optometrist near me” to help you with your allergies. To schedule an appointment with us at Clinton Eye Associates serving Clinton, CT, call us at (860) 669-2020 for more information.