Managing Eye Allergies: A Guide to Treatment Options
Eye allergies or allergic Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition. It occurs when an allergen irritates the eye.
As per NCBI, simple eye allergy impacts 10% to 30% of the general population.
Although there is no cure for allergies. Getting a treatment can help you relieve the symptoms.
Your eye produces a substance to fight the allergen known as Histamine. As a result, the eyelids and conjunctiva become red, swollen, and itchy.
It may also cause tears and burns in your eye. Allergic Conjunctivitis is not contagious, while other forms of Conjunctivitis may spread from person to person.
Your doctor will diagnose allergic Conjunctivitis after reviewing your symptoms and performing an eye exam.
Continue reading to learn more about different eye allergy treatments.
- Red, swollen, or itchy eyes
- Burning or tearing of the eyes
- Sensitivity to light
If you have nasal allergies, you may also have a stuffy, itchy nose and sneezing. You may also experience a headache, an itchy or sore throat, or coughing.
How to treat eye allergies?
It is important to avoid any allergens that are the cause of the problem. Staying away from the substance triggering your allergies is the first step toward treatment.
An allergist may perform some tests to determine the exact allergen to help you with the treatment.
Here are some eye allergy treatments that your doctor may recommend:
Prescription medicines and eye drops
In order to provide appropriate treatment, your ophthalmologist will first determine whether you have an eye infection or allergic conjunctivitis.
They can ask you about your medical history as well as your family’s allergy history.
Your ophthalmologist may examine your eye for a specific type of white blood cell. They will do so if your allergies are severe or it is unclear whether you have allergic conjunctivitis.
They might gently scrape a small area of the conjunctiva and look for white blood cells. Here are some prescription medicines you may need for eye allergy treatment.
This will help them give you the best prescription medicine for eye allergy treatment.
Antihistamine/mast-cell stabilizers
Antihistamine helps reduce redness, itching, and swelling due to eye allergies. They provide quick relief, but the effect doesn’t last long.
Some antihistamine eye drops are generally suggested to be used 4 times a day. Consult a doctor before using any medication.
Mast cell stabilizers prevent the release of histamines that may cause eye allergy.
To treat and prevent eye allergies, some of the most recent eyedrops contain both an antihistamine and a mast cell stabilizer.
According to a review published in Cochrane Library, Topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers, alone or in combination, are safe and effective eye allergy treatments.
It is safe for reducing symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic Conjunctivitis.
Ketotifen is an antihistamine eye drops that your doctor may recommend.
Cromolyn eye drop is a mast cell stabilizer often used for allergic Conjunctivitis.
Eye drops like Epinastine and Ketotifen are two generic medications for eye allergy treatment.
Corticosteroid eyedrops
These can aid in the treatment of chronic, severe eye allergy symptoms like itching, redness, and swelling.
Long-term steroid treatment (more than two weeks) should only be done under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
Continued use increases the risk of infection, glaucoma, and cataracts.
“If they didn’t have adverse effects, steroids would be the only anti-inflammatory agents we would ever need”
John D. Sheppard Jr., MD, MMSc
Loteprednol Etabonate Ophthalmic is one such corticosteroid for treating swollen eyes from an eye allergy.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAID eye drops are available in the form of eye drops to relieve itching.
These drops may cause stinging or burning when applied. Your doctor will prescribe the dose and frequency of the eye drops.
Immunotherapy (Allergy shots)
Allergy shots work by increasing a person’s tolerance to the substance causing the allergic reaction.
As per aaaai.org, Tiny amounts of the allergen are injected in increasingly larger doses over time.
The treatment takes several months to produce the best results, and you may still need to take medications to relieve symptoms.
OTC eye drops and medicines
Doctors might recommend nonprescription (over-the-counter or OTC) eyedrops and oral medications for short-term symptom relief.
They may not alleviate all symptoms, and prolonged use of some OTC eyedrops may worsen your condition.
Artificial tears
Tears substitute are eyedrops that are used to lubricate dry eyes and keep the outer surface of your eyes moist.
They can temporarily remove allergens from the eye while also moistening the eyes, which often become dry when red and irritated.
Overusing these drops can cause adverse affects. They can be refrigerated to provide additional soothing and comfort.
Oral antihistamines
While oral antihistamines may be mildly effective in relieving itching caused by eye allergies, they can cause dry eyes and potentially worsen symptoms.
Citrazine and Loratadine are examples of oral histamines your doctor may recommend.
However, keep in mind that oral antihistamines can cause dry eyes and aggravate a dry eye condition.
If you require additional assistance, a doctor can prescribe additional eye drops.
Furthermore, some OTC versions of these medications can cause sedation, excitability, dizziness, or impaired coordination.
Decongestants
OTC decongestant eyedrops narrow the blood vessels in the eye, reducing the redness associated with eye allergies.
They are available with just a decongestant or with both a decongestant and an OTC antihistamine. It is suggested that they can provide additional itching relief.
Naphazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic and Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride ophthalmic are two such eye drops.
Your doctor may recommend using them four to six times a day.
Also Read: Learn some at-home tricks to relieve eye allregies. Read our article “Natural Remedies for Eye Allergies: Relief without Medication” for more information.
Prolonged use can result in a “rebound effect,” which is increased swelling and redness that may last even after the drops are stopped.
If you have used decongestant nasal sprays for more than three days and your nose has become even more congested than before, you may be familiar with this.
Avoiding allergens
As mentioned before, avoiding allergens is the primary step for eye allergy treatment.
Here are some steps that you can take to avoid allergens and reduce the risk of allergies:
- Stay inside as much as possible when pollen counts are high, which is usually in the midmorning and early evening, and when the wind is blowing pollen around
- Avoid using window fans, which can bring pollens and molds into your home
- When you’re outside, wear glasses or sunglasses to reduce the amount of pollen that gets into your eyes
- Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this will irritate them and may aggravate your condition
- Close your windows and use air conditioning in your car and at home. Air conditioning units should be cleaned on a regular basis
- Reduce dust mite exposure, especially in the bedroom. Pillows, comforters, and duvet covers, as well as mattresses and box springs, should all have “mite-proof” covers. Wash your bedding on a regular basis with hot water
- To reduce mold exposure, keep your home’s humidity low (between 30 and 50 percent) and clean your bathrooms, kitchen, and basement regularly
- Use a dehumidifier, especially in basements and other damp, humid areas, and empty and clean it on a regular basis. If mold is visible, use detergent and a 5% bleach solution to clean it
- Rather than dry-dusting or sweeping, clean floors with a damp rag or mop
- After petting any animals, immediately wash your hands. After visiting friends with pets, wash your clothes
- If you are allergic to a household pet, keep it as far away from your home as possible. If you must have the pet inside, keep it out of the bedroom so that you are not exposed to animal allergens while sleeping
- If you have forced air or central heating or cooling, close the air ducts to your bedroom. Replace carpeting with hardwood, tile, or linoleum, which are less prone to dander accumulation
Eye allergies in children:
If your child has never had eye allergies before, discuss their symptoms with their pediatrician.
Your child’s symptoms are used to diagnose eye allergies. Allergy testing is rarely required.
When your child’s eye allergies are identified, a doctor will make recommendations for treatment.
A doctor may recommend an eye allergy treatment with OTC medications and lifestyle changes to limit allergen exposure.
Follow-up care will be required only if the treatment is not effective.
It is also suggested that oral histamines such as Loratadine and Cetirizine might help alleviate eye allergy symptoms.
There are some other things you can try if your child has breakthrough symptoms.
As per verywellhealth, other methods for preventing eye allergies and treating flare-up symptoms include:
- Using a cool washcloth to clean your child’s face and flushing their eyes
- Using a short-acting allergy medication, such as Diphenhydramine and antihistamine eye drop, such as Ketotifen, once a day for children aged 3 and up
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