If your eyes are often dry and itchy, allergies might be to blame. Some allergy meds can worsen dry eyes, leading to symptoms like watering, redness, and a burning sensation.
In the EU, dry eyes are familiar, affecting around 10% to 30% of people. This can be caused by things in the air that irritate your eyes, like smoke or pollen.
When it comes to allergies that impact your eyes, there are five primary types to watch out for:
This piece is about how allergies can lead to dry eyes, the symptoms and causes, and what you can do to treat and prevent this annoying condition.
Dry eyes can be caused by many different things, from where you are to what you're doing or even your health issues.
Some common causes include:
When it comes to allergies or other irritants causing dry eyes, watch out for:
When your eyes get dry because of allergies or other reasons, you might notice a few annoying symptoms:
On top of that, the National Eye Institute points out you might also have blurry vision or find bright lights bothersome.
The symptoms can change depending on what kind of allergy bothers your eyes. If you have seasonal allergies, you might also have a runny nose, a scratchy throat, and eye trouble.
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis are more challenging kinds of eye allergies. They usually affect people with eczema or asthma.
While these two conditions share many of the same issues, atopic keratoconjunctivitis is more common in older guys with skin problems like eczema.
These allergies can bother you all year but might worsen depending on the season. The main problems you might face include:
If allergies from stuff around you, like pollen or dust, are making your eyes dry, you might notice a few things happening with your eyes:
Contact allergic conjunctivitis happens when something like a contact lens irritates your eye.
If you have this kind of eye allergy, you might notice:
Giant papillary conjunctivitis is like a more intense version of this allergy.
Besides the symptoms mentioned, with giant papillary conjunctivitis, you might also feel:
If you have dry eyes, you can take steps at home to help improve your condition. These include changing your surroundings and using medications you can buy without a prescription or those your doctor prescribes.
Here are some tips to keep allergens at bay:
Besides avoiding allergens, you can also talk to your doctor about treatments for dry eyes. Some options might include:
If you're dealing with ongoing dry eye problems or if the usual remedies aren't helping. There could be various reasons behind the dryness, and a healthcare provider can help identify the cause and suggest appropriate treatment.
The healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms during your appointment and examine your eyes closely. According to guidelines from the European Council of Optometry and Optics, the examination may include the following:
If the healthcare provider suspects allergies might contribute to your dry eyes, they may recommend an allergy test to identify specific triggers.
Mobi Doctor can offer assistance if you're struggling with dry eyes and suspect allergies might be the cause. We provide online consultations where you can discuss your symptoms and receive professional advice on managing and treating your condition.