The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies and Eye Allergies

An allergic reaction is a distressing immunological reaction that happens when your body is exposed to an irritant. We call this chemical an allergy. The immune system protects the body from dangerous intruders like germs and viruses to prevent infections. Allergens like dust, pollen, or smoke frequently cause eye allergies.

Seasonal allergies are, as the name suggests, common during specific seasons. The most prevalent seasonal allergy is hay fever during summer. However, you can experience different seasonal allergies with different seasons. While they are rarer in some seasons, like winter, they are still present.

What Are Eye Allergies?

An allergic reaction to the eyes, commonly referred to as allergic conjunctivitis, happens when the eyes are exposed to specific allergens. In those who have allergies, the immune system misidentifies an allergen as a harmful substance. Despite the allergen being harmless, it triggers the immune system to produce molecules to fight against it.

The reaction brings bothersome symptoms, including red, itchy, and watery eyes. Eye allergies in certain persons may also be linked to asthma and eczema. In most cases, over-the-counter drugs can reduce ocular allergy symptoms, but patients with severe allergies might need extra care.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

Eye allergies may affect one or both eyes, depending on the level of exposure. Sometimes, the symptoms may come with other bodily symptoms like congestion, sneezing, or a runny nose. Here are the most common symptoms of eye allergies:

·      Pink and red eyes.

·      You may experience puffy or swollen eyelids in the morning.

·      Watery eyes or tearing excessively.

·      Scaling around the eyes.

·      Burning or itchiness in your eyes.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Hay fever is the more well-known name for summertime seasonal allergies. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, it affects about 8% of Americans. The word hay fever refers to the time of year when they cut hay.

In the past, the activity occurred throughout the summer when many people started to develop symptoms. Your immune system reacts abnormally to an outside allergen like pollen, which causes hay fever.

The most frequent allergens are pollen from wind-pollinated plants, such as weeds, grasses, and trees. Pollen from plants pollinated by insects is too heavy to stay in the air for very long and is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergy symptoms usually range between severe and mild, depending on your body's reaction. Most people who have asthma also suffer from hay fever. If you have asthma, hay fever may trigger an asthmatic response. Here are the most common symptoms:

·      Itchy throat, sinuses, or ear canal.

·      Stuffy or runny nose.

·      Postnasal drainage.

·      Sneezing.

·      Ear congestion.

·      Itchy and watery eyes.

How Are the Two Connected?

Eye and seasonal allergies are, in the first place, connected because they are allergic reactions that affect the eyes. Both are triggered by environmental allergens, and sometimes they happen simultaneously. Both can be treated with antihistamines, drugs that counteract your body's adverse reaction. 

For more about the connection between seasonal allergies and eye allergies, visit Brandon Eyes at our office in Middleton or Madison, Wisconsin. Call (608) 833-7256 or (608) 833-0301 to book an appointment today.