Eye allergies
Eye allergies — red, itchy, watery eyes that are bothered by the same irritants that cause sneezing and a
runny nose among seasonal allergy sufferers — are very common.
In some cases, eye allergies can play a role in conjunctivitis (pink eye) and other eye infections.
If you think you have eye allergies, here are a few things you should know — including helpful tips on
how to get relief from your red, itchy, watery eyes.
What Causes Eye Allergies
Normally harmless substances that cause problems for individuals who are predisposed to allergic
reactions are called allergens. The most common airborne allergens that cause eye allergies are pollen,
mold, dust and pet dander.
Eye allergies also can be caused by reactions to certain cosmetics or eye drops, including artificial tears
used for treating dry eyes that contain preservatives.
Food allergies and allergic reactions to bee stings or other insect bites typically do not affect the eyes as
severely as airborne allergens do.
Eye Allergy Relief
To get relief from your eye allergies and itchy, watery eyes, you can take a few approaches:
Avoiding allergens. As the old saying goes: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." (By
the way, Benjamin Franklin said that — the same guy who invented bifocals!) The best approach to
controlling your eye allergy symptoms is to do everything you can to limit your exposure to common
allergens you are sensitive to.
For example, on days when the pollen count is high, stay indoors as much as possible, with the air
conditioner running to filter the air. Use high quality furnace filters that can trap common allergens and
replace the filters frequently.
When you do go outdoors during allergy season, wear wraparound sunglasses to help shield your eyes
from pollen, ragweed, etc., and drive with your windows closed.
Removing your contacts. The surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens,
consider wearing only eyeglasses during allergy season. Or consider switching to daily disposable
contact lenses that you discard after a single use to avoid the build-up of allergens and other debris on
your lenses.
Over-the counter eye drops. Eye allergies are so common, there are a number of brands of nonprescription eye drops available that are formulated to relieve itchiness, redness and watery eyes caused
by allergies.
If your eye allergy symptoms are relatively mild, over-the-counter eye drops for allergy relief may
work very well for you and may be less expensive than prescription eye drops or other medication. Ask
your eye doctor to recommend a brand to try.
Eye Allergy Tips:
1. Get an early start. See your eye doctor before allergy symptoms start this year to learn how to
reduce your sensitivity to allergens.
2. Try to avoid what's causing your eye allergies, whenever possible.
3. Don't rub your eyes if they itch! This will release more histamine and make your eye allergy
symptoms worse.
4. Use plenty of artificial tears to wash airborne allergens from your eyes. Ask your eye doctor for
the best brands.
5. Cut down your contact lens wear or switch to daily disposable lenses to reduce the build-up of
allergens on your lenses.
6. Consider purchasing an air purifier for your home, and purchase an allergen-trapping filter for
your furnace.
Prescription medications. If your allergy symptoms are relatively severe or over-the-counter eye
drops are ineffective at providing relief, you may need your eye doctor to prescribe a stronger
medication.
Prescription eye drops and oral medications used to relieve eye allergies include:
 Antihistamines. Part of the body's natural allergic response is the release of histamine, a
substance that dilates blood vessels and making the walls of blood vessels abnormally
permeable. Symptoms caused by histamine include a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.
Antihistamines reduce allergic reactions by blocking the attachment of histamine to cells in the
body that produce an allergic response.
 Decongestants. Decongestants help shrink swollen nasal passages for easier breathing. They
also reduce the size of blood vessels on the white (sclera) of the eye to relieve red eyes.
Common decongestants include phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. Combination drugs are
available that contain both an antihistamine and a decongestant.
 Mast cell stabilizers. These medications cause changes in mast cells that prevent them from
releasing of histamine and related mediators of allergic reactions. It may take several weeks for
the full effects of mast cell stabilizers to take effect, these medications are best used before
allergy season starts as a method to prevent or reduce the severity of future allergic reactions
(rather than to treat acute allergic symptoms that already exist).
 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAID eye drops may be prescribed to decrease
swelling, inflammation and other symptoms associated with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis,
also called hay fever.
 Steroids. Corticosteroid eye drops are sometimes prescribed to provide relief from acute eye
allergy symptoms. Potential side effects of long-term use of these medications include high eye
pressure, glaucoma and cataracts, so they typically are prescribed for short-term use only.
Immunotherapy. This is a treatment where an allergy specialist injects you with small amounts of
allergens to help you gradually build up immunity.
Eye Allergies and Contact Lenses
Contact lens discomfort is a common complaint during allergy season, leading some wearers to
question whether they are becoming allergic to contact lenses.
The issue of being allergic to contacts also comes up from time to time when a person starts wearing
silicone hydrogel contact lenses after successfully wearing standard soft (hydrogel) contact lenses and
experiences allergy-like symptoms.
Studies have shown that the culprit behind eye allergies associated with contact lens wear is not an
allergic reaction to the contact lens itself, but to substances that accumulate on the surface of the lenses.
In the case of switching from regular soft contacts to silicone hydrogel lenses, the surface and chemical
characteristics of the lens material may attract lens deposits more readily than the previous lens
material, causing discomfort.
Many eye care practitioners believe the best type of soft contact lenses for people prone to eye allergies
are daily disposable lenses that are discarded after a single use, which decreases the build-up of
allergens and other debris on the lens surface.
Silicone hydrogel often is the preferred lens material for these lenses, because it allows significantly
more oxygen to pass through the lens, compared with conventional soft contact lens materials.
Eye Allergies Self-Test
Take this quiz to see if you might have eye allergies. Always consult your doctor if you suspect you
have an eye condition needing care.
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Do allergies run in your family?
Do your eyes often itch, particularly during spring pollen season?
Have you ever been diagnosed with "pink eye" (conjunctivitis)?
Are you allergic to certain animals, such as cats?
Do you often need antihistamines and/or decongestants to control sneezing, coughing and
congestion?
 When pollen is in the air, are your eyes less red and itchy when you stay indoors under an air
conditioner?
 Do your eyes begin tearing when you wear certain cosmetics or lotions, or when you're around
certain strong perfumes?
If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, then you may have eye allergies. Make an
appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist to determine the best course of action.