Preventing and Treating Eye Allergies

April 27, 2021


Allergic conjunctivitis is the medical term for eye allergy. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, this is a non-infectious type of conjunctivitis. It happens when the membrane covering the conjunctiva (membrane around the eye) becomes watery, inflamed, itchy, and red. If you want to find out how to prevent and treat eye allergies, here’s what you should know. 

 

Preventive Measures

 

Eye allergies can occur whenever, wherever allergens are present. You should do your best to prevent these substances from entering your space. Below are some of the effective ways to avoid eye allergy attacks:
 

  • Stay indoors. You can do this whenever the pollen count is high. This usually happens during the mid-morning and early evening hours of summer and spring. If you need to step out, wear proper eye protection and face masks.

  • Avoid yard work. Stepping outside to work on dirt, grass, and plants will only trigger your eye allergies. Keep away from that area. Have someone do it for you every other day instead. 

  • Close all openings. Keeping your windows and doors shut will keep the allergens from entering your living space. This will keep you safe from allergens in areas you frequent most. 

  • Turn on the air-conditioning. Air conditioning units can filter the air in your space. Turn this on so that allergens don’t get into your system and trigger eye allergy attacks.

  • Use an air purifier. This reliable appliance can clear the air in any room of your house or office. It works by sucking in the unfiltered air and releasing filtered air free of allergens and other impurities. 

  • Wear a face mask when cleaning. You should wear a face mask and goggles while cleaning. These protective items block allergens from entering your mucous membranes and triggering an eye allergy attack.

  • Keep pets out of the bedroom. If you have furry pets, you should keep your bedroom pet-free. This will make sure that your eye allergies do not act up during your resting hours. 

  • Vacuum and do not use carpets. Vacuum as often as you can. This will remove allergens and irritants from surfaces with heavy and light traffic. 


 

Treatment Methods

 

For eye allergies, eye doctors prescribe steroid eye drops with proper supervision and dosage. These eye drops can cause damage if you use them on your own. You can also use antihistamine eye drops. These can be prescription or over-the-counter medications. 
 

You should also stop using your contact lenses and rubbing your eyes. Wearing eye makeup is not suitable for eye allergies either. Cold compresses can help bring down the redness and swelling of your eyes, while artificial tears will help relieve burning and itchiness in your eyes. Using mite-proof sheets and pillowcases can also help control your symptoms. 


 

Preventing and treating your eye allergies means working with your eye doctor. At Eye Associates of New York, we encourage our patients to keep their routine eye checkups. This will help detect, manage, and treat any eye condition. Please visit our clinic in New York, New York, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at (212) 650-4888 for appointment scheduling and inquiries about our eye allergy treatment packages. 



Reference:

https://acaai.org/allergies/types/eye-allergy

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/allergies-diagnosis

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