Signs Of Eye Allergies

It is said that ‘eyes are the windows to the soul’ as they echo your state of mind. Can this be true if your eyes are watery, swollen, and red due to an allergic reaction? The eye is one of the most sensitive organs of our body. They are moist and are easily exposed to airborne allergens (such as pollens etc) causing allergic reactions. Eye allergies usually occur when your eye comes in contact with a sensitive substance. These sensitive substances are termed as ‘allergens’ or ‘foreign substances’ which float in the air. Sometimes allergies also can occur from cosmetics, food, or medications, etc. Fortunately, eye allergies (specifically allergic conjunctivitis) don’t harm your eyes very much however, they are greatly annoying and uncomfortable because of which you might end up muddling with your day to day work.

 

Your eyes appear red because of the enlarged vessels in the surface of the white portion of the eye. This may be due to the extreme exposure of your eyes to sun or dry air & dust or other conditions. Redness in your eyes is one of the signs of eye allergy.

 

When an allergen is inhaled, as a part of the immune response to the foreign substance, the body releases histamine and other chemicals. This results in swelling, itching, and tearing, of the eye.

 

There are several reasons for a burning sensation in the eye. It can happen due to lack of sleep, or excessive exposure to the rays emitted from a television/computer etc. This is also one of the symptoms of eye allergy.   

 

Blurred vision is a result of excessive watering of the eye. The allergies cause the changes in the physiologic makeup of your tear film resulting in blurred vision. Excess mucus can also cause blurred vision.

 

Itching is the most common symptom of eye allergies. It can occur due to environmental pollutants, use of cosmetics, passive cigarette smoking, or pollution caused by an industrial plant in the area.