From red puffy eyes to severe itching and mucus discharge, eye allergies can be quite uncomfortable and a hassle to deal with. Usually accompanied by a runny nose, coughing, and/or sneezing, eye allergies are common reactions to irritants and allergens. Although frustrating, understanding the triggers and treatments to eye allergies makes it that much easier to manage and control your body’s natural response. Listed below are five quick and easy tips on how to prevent and treat eye allergies.
Understand The Triggers
One easy way to treat your eye allergies is to prevent them altogether. It is important to know your triggers (i.e. the specific allergens that your body reacts to). Common triggers include both outdoor allergens, such as pollen from grass and trees, and indoor allergens, such as pet dander, dust mites, and mold, as well as general irritants such as cigarette smoke and perfume. Once you are able to identify your specific triggers, you will be better prepared for situations in which the allergens are present and can act accordingly.
Remove Contact Lenses
Puffy, irritated eyes are very common amongst contact lens wearers. The surfaces of contact lens are highly susceptible to attracting and accumulating allergens. If this is a common issue for you, consider wearing glasses during allergy season or switching to daily disposable contacts to avoid buildup of these irritants.
Home Remedies
If you do begin to show signs that your eye allergies are kicking in, there are some easy treatments that you can do at home.
An eye rinse containing a cup of distilled water and one teaspoon salt is great for relieving painful and itchy eyes. After mixing the two ingredients together, boil the water until the salt completely dissolves. Let the water cool to room temperature and then use the wash to rinse the irritated eye(s). Continue to do this several times a day for two to three days. This rinse helps wash away the debris in the eye, eliminating allergens and irritants.
Applying a cold press to the infected eye(s) is best for treating swelling and provides instant relief. For this, all you need is a wash cloth soaked in ice cold water. Place the compress on your eyes, and let the coolness reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain. Chamomile tea bags can also be used as a cold press and are great for itchy eyes. If you decide on this remedy, you will need to put two used chamomile tea bags in the refrigerator for half an hour and place them on the infected eye(s) for ten minutes. Do this three to four times a day for the best results.
Eye Drops
Pataday Medicated Eye Drops
If you’re out on the go or are in a need of a quick solution and relief, eye drops may be just for you. Since eye allergies are so common, over-the-counter eye drops are easily accessible and do a decent job of reducing itchiness, redness, or watery-eyes caused by allergies. However, if you have severe reactions to allergens it is best to go for prescribed eye drops such as Pataday. Pataday is a medicated eye solution that is used to reduce itchiness of the eyes by preventing eye-cells from releasing substances that cause the allergic reaction.
If your symptoms continue to worsen or are unable to be controlled after the suggested eye allergy treatments, please consult your doctor to discuss a treatment plan that works best for you.
