Understanding Eye Allergies
Eye allergies
Your eyes are one of the most sensitive and vulnerable organs you have. Ocular allergies, or allergies of the eye, are no different than allergies that affect your sinuses, nose or lungs.
Eye allergies happen when airborne allergens and other particles land directly on the surface of your eye causing irritation and redness. Then, your body overreacts to the substance and floods the eyes with tears and mucus.
Symptoms of eye allergies:
- Itching
- Redness
- Tearing
- Swelling and puffiness of the eyelids
- Mucus discharge
- “Foreign body sensation”
- Burning sensation
- Swollen lids
Location of allergy symptoms depends somewhat on where the allergen has come into contact with your body.
Causes
Allergy Eye Causes
Eye allergies often affect the conjunctiva, a thin transparent membrane overlying the eyes. This is the same type of membrane that lines the inside surface of the nose.
Seasonal allergies
With seasonal allergies, your symptoms are generally limited to a particular period of time or season (i.e., spring, summer, fall). You may be bothered in the spring by tree pollen, in the summer by grass pollen, or in the fall by weed pollen. Generally, your symptoms resolve during other times of the year, especially in the winter.
The most frequent airborne allergens include:
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Grass
- Dust
- Weeds
- Mold
There are also other eye irritants, such as:
- Cigarette smoke
- Perfume
- Diesel exhaust
The reaction
The Allergic Response
When harmless pollen or allergen is incorrectly perceived by your immune system to be something dangerous, your system overacts. Depending on your genetic response, your body will react to some allergens and less or not at all to others.
Most people will experience itchy eyes. It is the most common symptom of allergy eyes. It can affect both of your eyes or sometimes, one may be more intensely affected than the other.
When an allergen comes into contact with your eyes, your body releases histamines ― a chemical produced in reaction to a substance that the immune system can’t tolerate. Special cells called mast cells make histamine. These cells are present throughout the body but are highly concentrated in the eyes. This leads to itching, redness, and watery eyes.
Don’t rub!
Rubbing itchy eyes is a natural response. However, rubbing usually worsens the allergic reaction due to the physical impact on the mast cells, which causes them to release more mediators. Translation: Do not rub your eyes!
Managing your Allergy Eyes
1. Don’t rub!
2. Keep windows and doors closed to keep allergens out.
3. Clean regularly to remove dust and mold.
4. Use air filters in both furnace and air conditioners.
(and don’t forget to change them!).
5. Minimize carpeting that retains dust mites.
6. Minimize clutter to reduce allergens.
- Managing your Allergy Eyes
- 1. Don't rub!
- 2. Keep windows and doors closed to
keep allergens out - 3. Clean regularly to remove dust and
mold - 4. Use air filters in both furnace and air conditioners (and don't forget to change them!)
- 5. Minimize carpeting that retains dust
mites - 6. Minimize clutter to reduce allergens
