Eye Allergies | Your Complete Guide 2026

Do your eyes water all the time and you constantly feel like rubbing them? If your eyes keep turning red and you feel burning and discomfort, you most likely have eye allergies. This very common condition often comes along with nasal allergy symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, but many people focus on treating their nasal allergies and ignore what’s happening in their eyes. What exactly are eye allergies, and how can you treat and prevent them? Learn more in the following guide.

What Are Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies—also called allergic conjunctivitis or sometimes referred to as “pink eye”—are a common condition that occurs when the eyes react to certain irritants or allergens such as dust, pollen during springtime, or even viral infections. These triggers cause the eyes to release histamine to fight off the irritant. As a result, the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white of the eye and inside of the eyelids) and the eyelids themselves become inflamed, red, and swollen. The eyes become watery, irritated, and very itchy, making you feel an almost irresistible urge to rub them. Unlike many other types of eye infections, eye allergies are not contagious and do not spread from person to person.

Some people experience symptoms only in their eyes, while others also have nasal allergy symptoms such as a constantly runny nose. In some cases, skin allergies occur at the same time, causing redness, itching, and mild swelling of the skin. The main problem in all of these cases is that the body releases large amounts of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, which are directly responsible for the symptoms the patient experiences.

Symptoms of Eye Allergies

The most common signs of eye allergies can include:

• Redness of the eyes
• Itching and burning sensations
• Excessive tearing (watery eyes)
• Swollen eyelids
• A feeling of grittiness or having “sand” in the eye
• Light sensitivity (photophobia) in some cases

What Causes Eye Allergies?

People who have general allergic tendencies (atopy) are more likely to develop eye allergies, especially during certain seasons. If your immune system overreacts to harmless substances in your environment, your eyes are also more likely to react to the same triggers.

When allergens come into contact with the eyes, mast cells in the conjunctiva release histamine and other immune mediators into the bloodstream. These substances attempt to attack the allergen—such as pollen or dust mites—leading to eye redness, swelling, tearing, and the other symptoms mentioned earlier. It can be very hard to keep your hands away from your eyes when they burn and itch, but rubbing them usually makes everything worse.

Common triggers that can irritate the eyes include:

• Pollen (from trees, grass, and weeds)
• Household dust and dust mites
• Pet dander (such as cat and dog hair and skin flakes)
• Mold spores
• Smoke and air pollution
• Strong perfumes and chemical fumes
• Certain cosmetics and eye makeup products
• Contact lens solutions and some eye drops

Do Eye Allergies Affect Vision?

Fortunately, acute eye allergies that are treated properly—even when severe—do not usually cause permanent eye damage or long-term vision problems. However, you may experience temporary blurriness or hazy vision due to excessive tearing and swelling of the conjunctiva. This often comes along with noticeable redness and intense itching.

Some recent studies suggest that chronic, long-standing eye allergies may contribute to vision changes and even vision loss in people who rub their eyes very hard and very frequently. Persistent rubbing is associated with progressive damage to the cornea and can, in some cases, be linked to issues with the optic nerve. Repeated forceful rubbing can alter the shape of the eye and strain the nerve, leading to varying degrees of vision loss. The good news is that this type of visual decline is often functional and may improve once the patient stops rubbing their eyes and receives proper treatment.

Treatment of Eye Allergies

There are several strategies that can help reduce eye redness and swelling, such as:

Avoiding Triggers

The key to stopping an allergy flare-up is to eliminate or reduce exposure to the trigger as much as possible. To prevent episodes from happening in the first place, you need to avoid substances you already know you’re allergic to.

For example, on days when the air is filled with pollen and dust, try to stay indoors and keep your windows closed. Use air conditioning to filter and circulate the air. Choose high-quality air filters that can trap common airborne allergens and remember to change them regularly.

When you go outside during allergy season, wear wraparound sunglasses or thicker-frame sunglasses to act as a physical barrier that protects your eyes from dust, pollen, and other airborne particles. Keep your car windows closed while driving to minimize exposure.

Removing Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses for long periods increases the risk of eye irritation because dust, pollen, and other particles can easily stick to the surface of the lenses. These trapped particles may then trigger an allergic reaction. For this reason, people who are prone to eye allergies are usually advised to avoid contact lenses during high-allergy seasons and switch to glasses instead.

Eye doctors often recommend using daily disposable contact lenses rather than long-term (extended-wear) lenses, because daily lenses are thrown away at the end of the day and do not allow allergens to build up on their surface.

If you are currently having an eye allergy flare-up, it is best to stop using contact lenses altogether until your symptoms completely resolve. Some styles of glasses can even provide extra protection against airborne irritants and may also reduce light sensitivity, making them an excellent alternative during allergy season.

Medications as Prescribed by Your Doctor

Over-the-counter eye drops can be very helpful in mild to moderate cases. They often help relieve redness and irritation and are generally less expensive. However, in more severe cases, these products may not be enough, and you may need to see an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) to discuss prescription treatments such as:

• Antihistamine eye drops
• Mast cell stabilizer eye drops
• Combination antihistamine/mast cell stabilizer drops
• Short-term use of steroid (corticosteroid) eye drops for severe inflammation
• Oral antihistamines in some cases

Never use prescription-strength eye drops without medical supervision, as some of them can have serious side effects if used incorrectly or for too long.

Eye Allergy Drops

Because eye allergies are so common, many non-prescription eye drops have been developed to help relieve symptoms. One of the most widely used options is artificial tears (lubricating eye drops). These drops help flush allergens out of the eye and provide moisture to relieve dryness and irritation.

Artificial tears are mainly used to keep the surface of the eye well-lubricated and to prevent dryness that can worsen allergy symptoms. You can use them whenever you feel you need them, as long as you make sure they are free from preservatives or harsh chemicals, especially if you use them frequently. In many cases, preservative-free artificial tears can be safely applied up to at least six times a day.

Because most eye allergy triggers are airborne, completely avoiding them is often impossible. That’s why it’s important to talk with your eye doctor about your symptoms so you can get a treatment plan tailored to 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 eyes are healthy and to get the right treatment for your condition.