Eye Allergies

An allergy is an exaggerated immune response to a relatively harmless foreign substance, referred to as an allergen. Examples of common allergens include tree pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander. People who have allergies may have red, itchy, watery eyes after being exposed to these substances.

Your doctor may tell you that you have a condition known as allergic conjunctivitis. In this condition, the membrane covering the whites and inner lids of your eyes (the conjunctiva) is hypersensitive to allergens. It is one of the most common disorders of the eye.

Common types of allergic conjunctivitis include:

1. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis only occurs part of the year. It is due mostly to exposure of the eye to pollen from grasses, trees, and/or weeds. You may know it as hay fever. Many people with hay fever also have nasal symptoms.
2. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis persists throughout the year, although it may get worse during certain seasons. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis is usually due to exposure of the eye to constantly present household allergens such as animal dander and dust mite feces. Seasonal exacerbations can occur in either spring or fall, as a result of increased exposure to mold and grass, but appear most commonly in the fall, when exposure to dust mites and fungal allergens is greatest.