When Should I Be Worried About Eye Allergies?

Most people have had eye allergies at some point in their lives, but they don’t always understand what’s happening. In a nutshell, eye allergies are an allergic reaction of the eye. There are many different kinds of eye allergies, so it’s important to understand the symptoms, and know when you should seek medical attention.

Read on as a Fort Worth, TX optometrist talks about eye allergies and when to seek medical attention.

What Causes Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, are caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment. In most cases, this is pollen from trees or grasses that enters your eyes when you’re outside. However, they can also be caused by a number of different things. 

Some of the most common causes include:

• Dust mites
• Pollen 
• Mold 
• Pet dander 
• Fungi 
• Cosmetics
• Eye drops that contain preservatives
• Dirty contact lenses

Eye allergies can be painless and may not seem like a big deal. This is because they’re often mistaken for other health problems and eye conditions, such as eye infections, dry eyes, and even pink eye.

Eye Allergy Symptoms

• Eye itching or burning  
• Watery eyes  
• Redness of the eyes  
• Blurry vision 
• Itchy nose, throat or sinuses 
• Headaches

The severity of these symptoms can vary from person to person and from one season to another. If these symptoms are new or haven’t gotten better after treating them with over-the-counter eye drops and pills, contact our office so that we can help determine what is causing your discomfort.

Treatment Options

Eye allergies can make you feel like you have a sudden headache or sinus infection. But there are ways to treat them that don’t involve medication, including steroid eye drops and allergy shots.

The most common treatment options include:

• Steroid eye drops – These reduce inflammation in the eye tissue by reducing swelling and improving drainage of fluids under the eyelids. Some people may need more frequent applications than others depending on how severe their symptoms are.
• Allergy shots – Also known as immunotherapy, these are recommended for people who have suffered from allergies for years and want to avoid medication. The shots gradually build your tolerance to allergens by exposing you to small amounts of them over time. 
• Antihistamines – These help to reduce the production of histamine in the body, which is one of the chemicals that triggers allergy symptoms. 

If you have more questions or think you may have an eye allergy, please don’t hesitate to call us, your local Fort Worth, TX optometrist, today!