How to Reduce Eye Allergy Symptoms
Do your eyes feel irritated when exposed to pollen, dust, or mold? Do your eyes bother you when seasons change? Allergies can cause dry, itchy, burning, and red eyes. Dry eyes from allergies cannot be cured, but an optometrist can treat the symptoms so you can be more comfortable.
Patients with dry eyes in La Jolla, Carmel Valley, and San Diego, CA, can find relief from their irritation at GW Eye Associates. Dr. Gordon Wong and Dr. Wildon Wong offer conservative and intensive methods to effectively treat eye allergy symptoms.
Dry Eye and Eye Allergies
People with dry eyes do not produce enough tears, or their tears are low quality, meaning they have an imbalance in the amount of water, oil, and mucus. Below are some ways that our optometrists relieve the symptoms of dry eyes caused by allergies.
Common Conservative Treatments
Doctors usually start with conservative treatments and work up to more intensive treatments, if needed. Here are some initial, conservative methods for treating dry eyes:
- Prescription Eye Drops: The prescription medicated drops can instantly relieve dry eye and other allergy symptoms
- Liquid Tears: The use of lubricating eye drops can help soothe irritated eyes and flush out allergens and particles caught in the eye.
- Vitamin Supplement: Various vitamins and dietary supplements can be used to improve tear quality and relieve dry eye.
- Warm Compresses: Applied over closed eyes after an eye allergy attack, a warm compress can stimulate oil glands and retain eye moisture, providing proper eye moisture and relief.
Simple Lifestyle Adjustments
- Learn What Triggers Your Eye Allergies: Knowing the source of your eye allergies will help you know what kinds of plants, pets, and situations you should avoid.
- Wear Sunglasses Outdoors: Sunglasses can help block particulate allergens from getting into your eyes while also protecting your eyes from the effects of the sun.
- Wipe Floors with a Damp Mop: Sweeping floors can kick up dust and other particulate matter into the air. Using a damp mop on the floor picks up dirt and allergens without sending them into the air.
- Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes: While you may want to rub your eyes to address discomfort from allergies, this just makes the symptoms worse. A cold compress can help soothe eye irritation during an eye allergy attack.
Punctal Occlusion Surgery
A punctal plug is a tiny medical device placed in the tear duct to block drainage. Punctal plugs preserve lubricating moisture in the eye to alleviate symptoms of chronic dry eye that may be exacerbated by dry eye attacks.
Punctal plugs work with both natural and artificial tears. By blocking the tear drainage channel, fluid in the eye cannot escape. Instead, the liquid stays on the surface of the eye and sustains lubrication throughout the day.
Punctal occlusion surgery is a simple procedure, and recovery is typically fast. If the eyes don’t respond well to punctal plugs, a doctor can remove them and consider other options for treating dry eye.
Which Treatment Is Right for You?
Even if your eye allergies are severe, help is available. To find relief from allergy-induced dry eye and other symptoms, schedule an appointment at GW Eye Associates. You can call us at (858) 454-4699 or message us online.