How To Reduce Eye Allergies

What’s worse than a stuffy nose, respiratory symptoms, hives, and fatigue? All of those allergy symptoms, and then red, puffy, itchy eyes on top of it. An allergic reaction in the eyes is called allergic conjunctivitis, and it’s a bothersome “extra” allergy symptom that a lot of people suffer through.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

When you’re exposed to an allergen and the body recognizes it as harmful, histamine is released into the body, and that’s why allergic rhinitis symptoms occur. Allergic conjunctivitis, or eye allergies, occur because the clear layer of tissue covering the eye and the eyelid (called the conjunctiva) becomes inflamed after exposure to an allergen.

This article by Mount Sinai explains that the conjunctiva can also become inflamed during this histamine release. This leads to itching, redness, swelling, and tearing from the eyes. It can be mild to severe, and pretty bothersome when battling other allergy symptoms alongside it.

Practical Tips

There are some practical tips you can follow to help manage your eye allergies.

Antihistamines
Taking over-the-counter antihistamines helps to reduce the amount of histamine in the body, and the annoying symptoms that come along with it. This can help to reduce the inflammation and itchiness in the eyes, but isn’t a long-term treatment. It has to be taken daily.

Glasses vs. contacts
Choosing to wear glasses instead of contacts can help reduce symptoms. There’s less direct contact with the allergens when the glasses act as a barrier, and unlike contacts don’t dry out or hold on to allergens.

Lubricating eye drops
Using lubricating eye drops can give a little relief to the conjunctiva. There are also over-the-counter eye drops that are allergy-specific, as well as steroid eye drops that can be prescribed by a provider. Using eye drops for an extended period can cause complications, so these are best used only occasionally.

Cool compresses
The itching and inflammation can make the eyes feel warm, so a cool compress can be good relief.

If you’ve tried it all and still struggle, it may be time to think about allergy treatment.

Treating the Cause

The only way to get constant relief is to treat the underlying cause of your eye issues – your allergies. Start with allergy testing, an exam, and thorough history to determine which specific allergens cause your symptoms.

A clinician can then create a prescription for allergy drops following The La Crosse Method™ Protocol that contains tiny amounts of the allergens that cause your symptoms. Over time, the strength is increased, slowly and safely, to get your body gradually used to more and more of your offending allergens.

The body learns to not react when exposed to the allergens naturally, so season after season, you’re not suffering through allergy and eye allergy symptoms.

Find a clinician near you that offers disease-modifying treatment here.