One of the most troubling form of allergies you can get is eye allergy. This is when your eyes get red swollen and watery. What causes these kinds of reactions in the eye?
Eye allergies are very common. Almost half of the people in the US who suffer from allergies have eye allergy symptoms. Eye allergies are often the result of hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Also atopic eczema or dermatitis which is a skin disease might be the cause. The causes for eye allergies are similar to what causes asthma. In extreme cases eye allergies can cause blindness.
Reasons for Eye Irritation
Allergic symptoms usually appear before the age of 30 and the condition is often hereditary. Irritation of the eye is often produced when it is being rubbed with an allergen or otherwise exposed to it. Cosmetics and medications can often cause eye allergies. Reactions to eye irritants, however, are not the result of eye allergies. Therefore, also pinkeye is not an allergic condition even though it is often confused with one.
Most common allergies come from what you are exposed to in the home. Therefore, the reason for eye allergy symptoms is often dust mites, cats, dogs or mold. These affect the eye as well. The eye is the most exposed organ in the body without any protection. It is in direct contact with the air.
What to Do?
If your eyes get an allergic reaction and start watering, do not rub them. This only increases the reaction because it causes the irritant to spread and interact with the eye more violently. If you know what substance is causing your eye irritation staying away from it is the easiest way to fight the condition. However, if your yeas do become irritated you can use eye drops or artificial tears to wash out the substance. Another way to treat eye allergy symptoms is to use antihistamine eye drops which block histamine receptors in the eye. They can relieve the itching; however, they do not help the swelling in the eyes.
