Eye Allergies and Itchy Eyes — Causes & Relief

Eye allergies - itching and watery eyes - are very common, especially in spring. Besides symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked nose and a runny nose, most people who suffer from seasonal allergies also get itchy eyes, watery eyes, red eyes and swollen eyelids.

If you think you have eye allergies, here are a few things to know - along with useful tips on how to get relief from itchy, red, watery eyes.

What causes eye allergies

Normally harmless substances that cause problems in people prone to allergic reactions are called allergens. The most common airborne allergens that cause eye allergies are pollen, mould, dust and pet dander.

Eye allergies can also be triggered by reactions to certain cosmetics or eye drops, such as artificial tears containing preservatives used to treat dry eyes. Food allergies and reactions to bee or other insect stings do not usually affect the eyes as severely as airborne allergens.

How to get relief from eye allergies

To ease your eye allergies and watery, red eyes, you can follow a few tips:

Avoid the allergens. The best advice for controlling your eye-allergy symptoms is to do what you can to limit your exposure to the common allergens you are sensitive to.

On days when the pollen count is high, stay indoors as much as possible and run the air conditioning to filter the air. Use high-quality filters that can trap common allergens, and replace them often.

Change your car's cabin pollen filter. There are special filters that absorb allergens and stop bacteria and mould from entering the passenger cabin through the ventilation system. Good cabin filters have a particle-filter layer and often an extra activated-carbon layer, removing almost 100% of coarse particles such as dust, pollen and tyre dust, as well as tiny inhalable particles.

Take out your contact lenses. Because the surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens, try to wear glasses only during allergy season, or switch to daily disposable lenses that you throw away at the end of the day to avoid the build-up of allergens and other deposits. Often the best option, if allergies bother your eyes, is to stop wearing contacts altogether - at least until all allergy symptoms have gone. Wearing sunglasses with photochromic lenses can also reduce allergy-related light sensitivity and help protect your eyes from airborne allergens.

Use eye drops. Because eye allergies are so common, there is a range of over-the-counter eye-drop brands you can use to relieve the itching, redness and watering caused by allergies. If your symptoms are relatively mild, allergy-relief eye drops may work very well for you and may be less expensive than prescription drops or other medicines. Ask your doctor to recommend a brand to try.

Prescription medicines. If allergy symptoms are quite severe, your doctor may need to prescribe a stronger medicine. Prescription eye drops and oral medicines used to relieve eye allergies include:

• Antihistamines. Part of the body's natural allergic reaction is the release of histamine, a substance that dilates blood vessels and makes their walls abnormally permeable. Antihistamines reduce allergic reactions by blocking histamine from attaching to the body's cells. Decongestants help shrink swollen nasal passages for easier breathing and reduce the size of blood vessels in the white of the eye to relieve redness; combination medicines containing both are available.
• Mast cell stabilisers. These cause changes in mast cells that prevent them from releasing histamine and related mediators. Because they can take several weeks to take full effect, they are best used before the allergy season begins, to prevent or reduce future reactions rather than to treat acute symptoms.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAID eye drops may be prescribed to reduce swelling, inflammation and other symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
• Steroids. Corticosteroid eye drops are sometimes prescribed for acute eye-allergy symptoms. However, possible side effects of long-term use include high eye pressure, glaucoma and cataract, so they are usually given only for short-term use.

Tips for allergic eyes

• Start early. See your doctor before allergy season begins to learn how to reduce your sensitivity to allergens.
• Try to avoid or limit your exposure to the main causes of your eye allergies. In spring and summer, tree and grass pollens are the usual suspects. Weed pollen is the biggest culprit in late summer and autumn. Mould, dust mites and pet dander are common allergens in winter.
• Protect your eyes from airborne allergens outdoors by wearing wraparound-style sunglasses.
• Don't rub your eyes if they itch! Rubbing releases more histamine and makes allergy symptoms worse.
• Use plenty of artificial tears to wash airborne allergens from your eyes. Ask your doctor which brands are best for you.
• Limit contact-lens wear or switch to daily disposables to reduce the build-up of allergens on your lenses.
• Shower before bed and gently clean your eyelids to remove any pollen that could cause irritation while you sleep.
• Consider buying an air purifier for your home and an allergen-trapping filter for your heating/cooling system.