Is It Seasonal Allergies or Dry Eye?

These two conditions have similar symptoms with various underlying causes. In some cases, eye allergies can cause dry eye.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

In dry eye syndrome, your eyes dry out due to insufficient lubrication from tears. In extreme cases, the dryness can generate a burning feeling in your eyes. Similar to allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye can result in burning and redness.

Lack of lubrication from tears does not cause swelling and itchiness like seasonal allergies. Without medical care, dry eye can lead to problems with your vision. Some of these problems include blurry vision and sensitivity to light.

Dry eye may also occur from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is a disease that causes clogging of the glands in your eyelids. It can also result from irregular production of the oil component in your tears, causing dry eye.

Causes of Dry Eye

Trying to diagnose dry eye on your own may result in a wrong diagnosis due to its similarity to seasonal allergies. You can overlook underlying health issues like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, or Sjogren’s syndrome.

Watching a screen for a very long time, whether at home or work, can cause dry eye. The consequences are the same when looking at your smartphone, computer, or watching television at home. Reducing the time you spend in front of any of them may alleviate the symptoms.

Apart from these causes of dry-eye, others may include:
 

• Dehydration.
   

• Low humidity.
   

• Smoking.
   

• Menopausal hormone fluctuations.
   

• Medications like antihistamines or oral contraceptives.

Treatment

Using seasonal allergy eye drops can exacerbate dry eye. Explain the symptoms to your doctor to get the correct diagnosis. It is better to get prescription artificial tears from your doctor.

Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis

This disease is noncommunicable, unlike viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. What sets it apart from dry eye is that it causes itchiness. The itchiness can be subtle or severe. Severe itchiness can cause constant rubbing of your eyes that can accidentally create tears and redness.

Another symptom of seasonal allergies is puffiness in the skin surrounding your eyes. You may also have allergic shiners and sensitivity to light. Allergic shiners are dark circles under your eyes. If you do not experience any itching in your eyes, you might be suffering from a different eye disease.

Causes

Causes of seasonal allergies vary depending on when and what you are allergic to. Your allergies may occur in certain seasons or go on all year round. Some people are allergic to tree pollen, mold, dust mites, perfumes, pet dander, and many more. If you have any other allergies like hay or nasal, you are at risk of getting allergic conjunctivitis.

Prevention and Treatment

The ideal way of preventing seasonal allergies is by limiting your exposure to whatever you are allergic to. However, this may not always be possible. Some doctors can prescribe antihistamines to combat the allergy.

For instant relief, others prefer using eye drops. Always opt for preservative-free seasonal allergy eyedrops. You can also rinse out the allergens from your eyes using artificial tears during the allergy season.

If unsure about whether you have dry eye or seasonal allergies, visit Eye Care North at our office in Cave Creek, Arizona. You can also call 480-781-4446 to book an appointment today.