Many people mistakenly believe that you should only ever visit a family doctor/general practitioner to discuss allergies. However, this isn’t the case. While they may be able to perform a basic physical assessment and a general diagnosis, they don’t have the training and experience needed to carry out in-depth assessments. This may make it difficult for them to accurately diagnose eye allergies, and they could overlook other potential causes of your symptoms which could have more significant consequences for your eye health and vision. 

An optometrist is a healthcare professional who provides primary vision care, which includes everything from eye tests and prescriptions for corrective lenses, to diagnosing issues such as eye allergies and recommending the appropriate treatment. Let’s find out a little more about eye allergies and how visiting your optometrist can help.

What are eye allergies?

Allergies can affect many parts of the body, including the eyes. Eye allergies occur when a normally harmless substance comes into contact with the eyes, but the body perceives it to be harmful. As a result, it defends itself against the substance by releasing chemicals called histamines. It is these histamines that cause the symptoms that we associate with having an allergic reaction. 

People can be allergic to a wide range of things. However, the most common causes of eye allergies include:

• Pollen
• Mold spores
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Smoke 

Unlike eye infections like conjunctivitis, eye allergies are not contagious. 

 

Symptoms of eye allergies

The symptoms of eye allergies can be similar to other eye conditions, so it is always advisable to seek the opinion of your optometrist rather than trying to self-diagnose. The most common symptoms of eye allergies include:

• Itching
• Redness 
• Burning sensation
• Clear, watery discharge
• Scaling around the eyes
• Swollen or puffy eyelids, particularly in the morning 

Sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by more general allergy indicators such as a cough, blocked sinuses, sneezing and wheezing. 

Diagnosing eye allergies

Diagnosing eye allergies involves a comprehensive examination of your eyes to ensure that there are no other underlying causes, such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis. Your optometrist will also talk to you about your lifestyle, work and other activities in order to try and pinpoint what is triggering your allergies. Following this, they will speak to you about the different treatment options available.

How are eye allergies treated?

Fortunately, there are a number of different treatments that can successfully counteract the effects of eye allergies. It is often a case of trial and error to discover which treatments will be most effective for each patient. Some of the options that you may be given could include:

• Antihistamines - As their name suggests, this medication works by blocking the histamines that cause allergy symptoms. They are available orally, as well as in the form of eyedrops. 
• Antibiotics - If you have an eye infection as a result of your allergies, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection. These are usually given orally or as eyedrops and may also be accompanied by steroids to help counteract inflammation. 
• Immunotherapy - Immunotherapy is usually only recommended when other treatments have failed and involves allergy shots that work by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce less histamines. 

If you would like more information about how an optometrist can help with eye allergies, or to schedule an appointment, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable eyecare team at Seaside Eyecare located in San Clemente, California. Call us at 949-493-2269 today.