Do you suffer from red, watery, and itchy eyes? Spring is here which is peak time for allergies and especially in Melbourne these symptoms are common and have many causes. It is hard to enjoy Spring when you are experiencing allergies! Persistent itchy eyes are strongly associated with ocular allergies or allergic conjunctivitis1 and allergic conjunctivitis has been estimated in 6-30% of the general population. 2 If you already suffer from allergies such as hayfever you are more likely to experience itchy and watery eyes.
What is allergic conjunctivitis?
Allergic conjunctivitis happens when the eye’s immune system reacts over sensitively to an allergen, a harmless foreign substance. Allergens such as pollens and grass tend to be seasonal and is the most frequent form of allergic conjunctivitis. Allergens such as dust mites, air pollutants and pet dander can affect all year round and this is referred to as atopic or vernal conjunctivitis. Atopic or vernal conjunctivitis can cause red eyes, itching, wateriness and swelling. It mostly affects both eyes but can be more severe in one eye than the other.
In some cases, if an allergen causes a fast or acute reaction, you may experience swelling of the eyelid itself and the white area (conjunctiva) of the eye. It is always best to see your optometrist in these severe cases to ensure there is no foreign body in the eye and to get you on the right treatment plan.
Treatments and tips:
Here are our quick easy tips in managing mild ocular allergies1:
1. Avoid allergens
With everything, prevention is key – avoid or minimize the eyes being exposed to the allergen. Stay indoors on days with high pollen count (you can get this data online via weather websites) or wear wraparound sunglasses when gardening or mowing the lawn.
2. Don’t itch!
Yes, we know that itchy feeling! However the more your rub, the itchier your eyes will feel in the short term. The allergen triggers the eye to release “histamine”. The more we rub the eye, the more histamine is released which results in a snowball inflammation effect. Frequent eye rubbing in the long term can also change your eye shape and induce astigmatism.
3. Ocular lubricants
Use lubricating drops every 1-2 hours or have a saline eye bath to “dilute” or clear the allergen away from the eye that is triggering the allergy. A reduced tear film layer or dry eyes, can also make your eye allergies worse.
4. Cold compresses
Allergies result in inflammation. Just like how you would use an ice pack for a sprained ankle to reduce inflammation; cold compresses (we like an ice cube wrapped in a clean tissue) can be applied to the eyes for a 3-4 minutes at a time. You can also try refrigerated lubricating drops for extra relief!
5. Antihistamine eye drops
Eye drops target the itchy eyes more quickly than common oral allergy medications which can dry out the eyes and worsen dry eye symptoms. We recommend sticking with topical antihistamine eye drops rather than oral antihistamines when managing eye allergies such as Zaditen.
Interestingly, some over-the-counter anti-allergy eye drops such as Visine allergy eye drops tend to have a mix of antihistamine and decongestant drops. These drops treat symptoms rather than treating the cause. In some cases, when ceasing decongestant drops, rebound eye redness and change to pupil size and vision can happen.
Conclusion
If symptoms persist or worsen with home management, it is important to consult with your optometrist to receive medical assessment and treatment. In severe ocular allergies, eyes will tend to produce stringy and clear mucus discharge which may need stronger inflammatory drops. Your optometrist can prescribe a range of eye medicines such as steroids, preservative free antihistamines, and mast cell stabilizers. These eye drops can treat short term and manage long-term allergies.
Make an appointment with our therapeutically endorsed optometrists online or call us on 03 9436 0404
Published October 2023
References
- Patel Darshak S, Arunakirinathan Meena, Stuart Alastair, Angunawela Romesh. Allergic eye disease BMJ 2017; 359 :j4706. Accessed August 31, 2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j4706.full
- Leonardi, Andrea; Castegnaro, Angela; Valerio, Alvise La Gloria; Lazzarini, Daniela. Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis: clinical appearance and treatment patterns in a population-based study. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology 15(5):p 482-488, October 2015. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000204