Three Ways Seasonal Allergies Affect Vision

Most people equate seasonal allergies with sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and coughing. But the roughly 50 million allergy sufferers in the U.S. also know how significantly allergies can affect your eyes, often causing itching, redness, stickiness, watering, swelling, soreness, and even blurred vision. At inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham in Birmingham, AL, our experienced team of doctors understands the impact seasonal allergies can have on the eyes. That’s why we provide eye allergy testing and treatment to keep your eyes comfortable and seeing clearly when seasonal allergies strike.

We’re going to discuss how and why seasonal allergies affect the eyes, including the three main effects seasonal allergies have on the eyes, and tell you how you can get relief from itchy, watery, sticky, and puffy eyes.

What causes seasonal eye allergies?

An allergic reaction happens when your body has a hypersensitive response to something in the environment. This can be pollen, pet dander, mold, smoke, etc. For seasonal allergy sufferers, this is most commonly tree, grass, and flower pollen. Pollen can affect the conjunctiva or the membrane that covers the eyes and eyelids. The body views the pollen as a harmful threat and triggers antibodies to start producing histamines. The histamines cause the eyes to become inflamed, red, itchy, and watery – these symptoms are commonly known as eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis. At inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham in Birmingham, AL, we provide testing and treatment for allergic conjunctivitis, no matter the cause.

Do seasonal allergies affect your vision?

Seasonal allergies can affect everyone’s eyes differently, but the three most common effects of allergic conjunctivitis are:

1. Inflammation – The inflammation caused by the release of histamines causes itching, stickiness, redness, swelling, and tearing
2. Blurred vision – The extra tearing and swelling can cause blurred vision as your eye tries to see through the tears
3. Sensitivity to light – Because the eyes are irritated and inflamed, some people may experience sensitivity to bright light

How to treat eye allergies

The discomfort and pain caused by seasonal eye allergies can be annoying and frustrating. Many look for a variety of ways to get relief. If you’re suffering from watery eyes, itchy eyes, puffy eyes, red eyes, painful eyes, or excessive tearing, here are a few tips to relieve the symptoms:

• Don’t scratch – Sure, your eyes are super itchy, but scratching or rubbing them will release more itch-causing histamines
• Use a cold compress – Wet a clean washrag in cold water and apply it to your eyes for instant relief
• Eye drops – There are many types of eye drops specifically formulated to give you relief from eye allergies
• Get tested – Having your eyes tested for allergies by an ophthalmologist can help you understand what’s causing your allergies, and they can prescribe a better treatment to help relieve the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

Get relief for your eye allergies today

You don’t have to suffer from watery, itchy, red eyes and blurry vision or sensitivity to light. Call inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham today to schedule an appointment in Birmingham, AL. Let one of our talented doctors test your eyes for allergies and then prescribe a treatment to get you the relief you need. Let us help relieve the irritation and frustration of your seasonal allergy eye symptoms and get you back to seeing clearly and comfortably.