Allergies and Itchy Eyes in North Texas

As I noted in my previous blog post on common causes of dry, itchy eyes, a big factor can be your environment. In North Texas, we’re almost always exposed to pollen and dust, as well as wind. In addition, at certain times of the year mold can be a problem as well as an increase in pollen, such as mountain cedar.

What are Allergies?

ragweedAllergies are caused by your immune system overreacting to any or all of the things mentioned above. Your immune system releases histamine that then causes itchy and watery eyes as well as a runny nose, coughing, and sneezing.

How Are Allergies Diagnosed?

Allergies are diagnosed by an allergist. It involves skin prick tests to identify your sensitivity to a wide variety of substances including pollen, grass, trees, and even foods.

Allergy Treatments

Treatments for allergies include medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and even steroids. They also include allergy shots and eyedrops. 

Eye Allergies D-I-Y

Some simple things you can do to ease your itchy eyes caused by allergies include:

  • Don’t Rub Your Eyes – This is a natural thing to do but it can also cause further irritation to your eyes. So, it’s best to avoid rubbing your eyes.
  • Eye Rinse – Wash out your eyes and get rid of the pollen or dust that’s causing the allergic reaction.
  • Cold Compress – Use a cold wet cloth over your eyes to reduce the itchy feeling.
  • Stay Indoors – Most of the allergens are outside. So avoid them as best you can by staying indoors and when driving set your air conditioning to recirculate to avoid picking up outside airborne allergens. 
  • Wear Sunglasses – This will not only relieve your eyes from the glare of the sun but also block pollen and dust from reaching your eyes.
  • Take Out Contacts – Itchy eyes can also be exacerbated by contact lenses. To obtain quick relief, take them out.
  • Switch Contacts – You can also switch to daily disposable contacts. This gets rid of the allergens each day.
  • Over-the-Counter Medications – Try some of the 24-hour medications for allergies. These can relieve itchy eyes but may also cause your eyes to dry out. 
  • Over-the-Counter Eyedrops – Artificial tears are a great first choice. If they don't help, decongestant eyedrops are another option.

For more insight into treatment options, see my posts on How to Combat Dry Eye Flare Ups or  Five Dry Eye Treatments Unheard of by Most People

Professional Help

These are all excellent starting points for treating your itchy eyes caused by allergies. And there’s no better place than North Texas to experience pollen driven allergies. 

When you’re still experiencing itchy, watery eyes, it’s time to seek professional help. There are a number of prescription options for eye drops and oral medications that can relieve the symptoms of eye allergies and they are all in our tool kit.

We’re Here to Help

As always, we’re here to provide the very best in vision care, including helping diagnose and relieve your allergy symptoms.

Give us a call and let’s get started providing you superb vision care.

Use our contact form or call us at 972-612-2099.

Disclaimer: The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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