Sore eyes – rather than a blocked or a runny nose - are for some people with allergies the most common symptoms. Red, sore, watery eyes are especially common in hay fever, with the conjunctiva becoming inflamed and the tissue around the eyes swollen. Sore eyes can be prevented by avoiding the offending allergens. However, medication such as an antihistamine can also be used to reduce allergic eye symptoms.
Clinically known as periorbital puffiness, puffy or sore eyes is a common symptom with many possible causes, including ocular (eye) allergy. Puffy eyes mean a swelling in the tissues around the orbit of the eyes. Sore eyes are not the same as 'bags under the eyes'. The symptoms of allergic eye disease include:
Allergies are one of the most common causes of sore eyes. Exposure of the eyes to an allergen like pollen, pet dander or mould causes an over-reaction in the immune system. One major component of this reaction is the release of a chemical called histamine from mast cells, a type of immune cell. Histamine has various effects, one of which is to make tiny blood vessels around the eye swell and become leaky, thereby releasing fluid into the surrounding tissue and causing swelling.
Three of the main types of ocular allergy all have similar symptoms and all come under the heading of conjunctivitis, sometimes known as 'pink eye'. The conjunctiva is the outermost layers of tissue covering the eye itself and the inside of the eyelids. The allergic response described above also causes inflammation in the conjunctiva, as well as puffiness in the tissue around the eye. The three types of allergic (sometimes also known as atopic) conjunctivitis are:
There are non-allergic causes of sore eyes, these include:
Airborne allergens like pollen, mould or dust often cause eye problems. Pollen grains are readily deposited on the surface of the conjunctiva because of their size and shape. However, some people are allergic to other substances, such as the ingredients in eye makeup or contact lens solutions.
There are many possible causes, including exposure to:
Limit your exposure to the symptom causing allergens as much as possible through practicing allergen avoidance. In regard to medical treatments, there are a couple of different options. Oral tablet form antihistamines are the standard treatment for sore eyes caused by an allergy. The 'second generation' non-sedating antihistamines, like Claritin or Benadryl Allergy Relief or Benadryl Plus Capsules.
There are also a number of antihistamine eye drop formulations for allergic conjunctivitis such as:
If antihistamines are not effective other treatments include:
With eye drops, you need to be careful to avoid infection by not allowing the dropper to touch your eye and by never using 'out of date' eye drops. If you have any questions, please ask your pharmacist.
Allergen avoidance is the key to preventing sore eyes. If pollen is the problem, try the following:
With the perennial form of allergic conjunctivitis, try to keep down airborne household allergens by: