Eye allergies can be irritating and painful. They can make it difficult to see, cause itchiness, and make your eyes red and inflamed. Luckily, there are ways to manage and minimize eye allergies. At Riviera Opticare, we can help. Our eye doctor in Mesa and Scottsdale, AZ provides eye exams to diagnose eye allergies. Our experts will give you insight into your allergies and what is causing them.
What Causes Eye Allergies?
There are a lot of different things that can cause your eyes to become dry and irritated. However, when it comes to allergies being the culprit, you can commonly blame issues like an allergy to pollen. This is considered a seasonal allergy, because trees don't pollinate year-round. Instead, it's during a specific season that you'll see issues relating to allergies from pollen. Other causes of eye allergies include pet dander, dust, smoke, mold, and more. These allergens cause a reaction in the eye, attempting to fight off the allergen. This leads to redness, swelling, burning, itchiness, redness, and dryness in the eyes.
What Treatments Are Available for Eye Allergies?
Determining what allergen is irritating your eyes is important in relieving it. Getting an eye exam will let you and our eye doctor know what the exact issue is, and from there a treatment can be derived.
Unfortunately, there isn't a magic cure for allergies. Rather, there are numerous remedies that patients can use when looking for relief. Our optometrist will determine what method is best for you. This can include over the counter allergy medicines, which provide some temporary relief. However, it is also important to avoid touching your eyes. Rubbing your eyes will only make them more irritated. Furthermore, if you wear contacts, consider switching to backup glasses for a short time. If your eyes are still becoming dry and irritated, our eye doctor will prescribe eye drops for you. Eye drops can lubricate your eyes and relieve pain. Warm compresses may also alleviate irritation. Our optometrist will also recommend that you avoid specific allergens if possible. You may need to spend less time outside or wear sunglasses to prevent allergens and foreign objects from contacting your eyes.
Schedule an Appointment for Eye Allergy Relief
If you're dealing with eye allergies, do not wait to seek treatment. Your condition could worsen. At Riviera Opticare, our eye doctor in Mesa and Scottsdale, AZ will perform an eye exam and provide treatment for your eye allergies. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call us today.