Eye Allergies | Your Complete Guide 2026

Do your eyes constantly tear up and you feel an ongoing urge to rub them? If your eyes keep turning red and you experience burning and pain, you’re most likely dealing with eye allergies. This is a very common condition that often comes along with nasal allergy symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose. Many people focus on treating nasal symptoms and ignore what’s happening to their eyes. So, what exactly are eye allergies, and how can you treat and prevent them? Learn more in the sections below.

What Are Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies—often referred to as allergic conjunctivitis, or sometimes “pink eye” in everyday language—are a common condition that occurs when the eyes react to certain triggers such as dust, pollen in springtime, or even viral infections. These triggers stimulate the eye to release a chemical called histamine in an attempt to fight off the irritants. As a result, the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids) and the eyelids become inflamed, red, and swollen. The eyes become watery, irritated, and you feel a strong urge to rub or scratch them. Unlike other types of eye infections, allergic eye conditions are not contagious and do not spread from person to person.

Eye irritation may appear alone, or it may be accompanied by nasal allergies that show up as a constantly runny or stuffy nose. It can also be associated with skin allergies, which present as redness, itching, and some swelling. The major problem in eye allergies is the body’s excessive release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, which are directly responsible for the symptoms you notice.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

The most common signs that you may be experiencing eye allergies include:

What Causes Eye Allergies?

People with an overactive or highly sensitive immune system (atopy) are more prone to developing eye allergies, especially during certain seasons. If your immune system tends to react quickly to environmental triggers, your eyes are also more likely to react to the same factors.

When allergy‑triggering substances (allergens) come close to the eye, mast cells in the tissues around the eye release histamine and other immune mediators into the bloodstream. These substances attempt to attack triggers such as dust or pollen, which leads to eye allergy symptoms like redness, swelling, tearing, and itching. It’s very hard to keep your hands away from your eyes when they burn and itch, but rubbing them usually makes everything worse.

Substances that commonly irritate the eyes include:

Do Eye Allergies Affect Vision?

The good news is that acute eye allergies, when properly treated, generally do not cause permanent damage to the eyes and do not usually lead to long‑term vision problems. You may, however, experience temporary blurred or hazy vision because of excess tearing and fluid buildup on the eye’s surface, along with a red, swollen conjunctiva and persistent itching.

Some recent studies suggest that chronic, uncontrolled eye rubbing in people with long‑standing eye allergies may contribute to progressive vision problems and even vision loss. Continuous and forceful rubbing has been linked to secondary damage to the optic nerve, because repeated pressure and stretching can weaken and injure this delicate structure. This may cause varying degrees of vision loss. In most cases, though, this type of vision decrease is temporary rather than permanent, and it tends to improve once the rubbing stops and the eye is properly managed.

Treatment of Eye Allergies

There are several strategies that can help reduce redness, swelling, and discomfort in allergic eyes, including:

Avoiding Triggers

The key to stopping an allergy flare is to remove or minimize exposure to whatever is triggering it. To prevent future episodes, you need to avoid the allergens you already know you’re sensitive to. For example, on days when the air is heavy with pollen or dust, try to stay indoors and run the air conditioner to filter the air. Use high‑quality air filters capable of trapping common eye irritants, and make sure you replace these filters regularly.

When you do go outside during allergy season, wear wraparound or thicker‑framed sunglasses that act as a physical barrier against dust, pollen, and other airborne particles. You should also keep your car windows closed while driving to reduce exposure.

Removing Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses for long periods increases the risk of eye irritation because dust and allergens can accumulate on the lens surface. Contacts can also trap tiny airborne particles against the eye, triggering an immune response. For this reason, people who are prone to eye allergies are usually advised to switch to glasses during peak allergy seasons such as spring.

Eye care specialists also tend to recommend daily disposable contact lenses rather than long‑term or extended‑wear lenses for allergy‑prone patients. Daily lenses are thrown away at the end of each day, which helps prevent build‑up of allergens and deposits on the lenses.

It’s even better to stop wearing contact lenses entirely while you are having an active eye allergy flare and until all symptoms have resolved. Certain types of eyeglasses can help shield your eyes from dust and other irritants and can also reduce light sensitivity, making them a good alternative during this time.

Medications Prescribed by Your Doctor

Over‑the‑counter eye drops can be quite effective for mild to moderate cases of eye allergies. They may help relieve redness, irritation, and burning and are typically less expensive. However, in more severe cases, non‑prescription products may not be enough, and you’ll need to see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to discuss prescription treatments, such as:

Eye Drops for Allergies

Because eye allergies are so common, a wide range of eye drops has been developed, including many that are available over the counter without a prescription—such as artificial tears. Artificial tear drops help flush out allergens from the eye’s surface. They are primarily used to lubricate the eyes and prevent dryness, which can worsen allergy symptoms. You can generally use them whenever you feel the need, as long as you make sure they are free from harsh preservatives or irritating chemicals. In many cases, they can safely be applied up to at least six times a day.

Most eye irritants are floating in the air, so it’s not always possible to avoid them completely. Discuss your symptoms in detail with your eye doctor to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment for your specific case. Do your eyes become red and intensely itchy when you’re exposed to cat dander or airborne flower pollen? Schedule an appointment with us to make sure your eye health is protected.