No need to cry over allergy season, says expert
By Lethbridge Herald on May 10, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Spring has sprung and with it the various allergens that make people’s eyes itchy, red and watery.
Eye allergies can impact daily life and overall eye health, according to the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
But they don’t have to.
Naomi Barber, Clinical Services Director at Specsavers Canada, says allergens can be anything from pollen, dust mites, pet dander or mould.
“This time of the year, pollen is the most prevalent but individual triggers can be different for each person,” says Barber. “Allergies present with a significant itchiness of the eyes, specially in the corners, redness, irritation and watery eyes.”
She says that identifying and avoiding a person’s triggers can help manage symptoms and when in doubt or unable to manage them, she suggests visiting an ophthalmologist because they are able to identify the level of irritation and inflammation in the eyes and provide appropriate treatment.
Barber adds that the most common reaction to these symptoms is to rub the eyes, particularly in children, but this is something that should be avoided for a few reasons.
“Ongoing long-term rubbing of the eyes can cause damage to the eyes, so optometrists recommend cool compresses, anti-allergy eyedrops that can be purchased over the counter and can alleviate symptoms for a short period of time,” says Barber.
She says that sometimes artificial tears can help sooth the itch and burning sensation caused by allergens.
Allergies can also present as allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammatory response to an allergen, causing symptoms of itchiness or grittiness and making the eye look red and watery.
“There are some cells in the surface of the eye that react like a skin allergy and causes those symptoms of redness, inflammation, itchiness, and sometimes discharge,” says Barber.
She explains that allergic conjunctivitis can be difficult to differentiate from the common conjunctivitis known as pink eye, which is a bacterial infection, and it is best to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to get the proper treatment.
Allergic conjunctivitis can also be very common in children and is often one of the more common presentations when children get red eyes. It can be very irritating and lead to excessive eye rubbing, which in turn, can predispose children to other conditions of the eye like bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye).
“We need to educate children about not touching their eyes, help them to avoid allergens and make sure they are seen by an optometrist if any redness or irritation is persisting,” says Barber.
Optometrists can look at the eye to check for any redness on the eyelids, discharge from eyes, or swollen blood vessels on the white part of the eye to detect eye allergies.
If allergies are detected, they can recommend tailored treatments like prescription eye drops or lifestyle adjustments to help relieve symptoms and keep your eyes comfortable.
“There are many ways to protect your eyes from allergens and one of them is sunglasses. Putting any type of protective layer around your eye definitely helps,” says Barber.
She adds that optometrists can provide specific ways to protect your eyes depending on what the triggers are, and that is why it is important to have regular check ups.
“It is very important to be assessed because the front of the eye is critical for clear vision and ongoing rubbing and ongoing inflammation in the front of the eye, can cause significant consequences to the vision if not care for properly,” says Barber.
21-20
Antihistamines are the go to remedy for allergies these days, because they work. Funny there’s no mention of antihistamines in the article.
And wouldn’t it make more sense for people to go to an allergist?