Allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander and certain food products can cause allergy symptoms to develop in your chest, nose or eyes, or on your skin. If you develop eye allergy symptoms, your doctor may recommend the use of over-the-counter or prescription eye drops or oral medications to help alleviate your symptoms.
Itching
Allergens that float through the air, such as tree or flower pollen, can come in contact with the sensitive tissue that lines your eyes, causing them to itch. If this occurs, you can lightly rub your eyes to alleviate itchy symptoms. Related eye symptoms can include burning or stinging due to allergen exposure, explains the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, rubbing or scratching your itchy eyes can make symptoms worse, especially if your hands have also been exposed to the allergen.
Swelling
Eye irritation due to airborne allergens can cause inflammation within the eyes, causing your eyelids or the skin beneath your eyes to appear puffy or swollen.
Redness
Cat dander or dust mites can alter the appearance of the whites of your eyes. Symptoms of itching and swelling due to exposure to eye allergens can cause your eyes to appear red or bloodshot.
Watery Discharge
If you get an allergen such as mold spores in your eye, your body can initiate an immune response to try clearing the allergen from your body. As a first defense, your body will increase the amount of fluid in your eyes to try to flush out the irritant, which results in tearing or watery discharge from your eyes.
Conjunctivitis
Exposure to certain allergens can cause severe inflammation or infection of the inner lining of your eyes, a condition called conjunctivitis (pink eye). This condition is highly contagious and can cause symptoms such as redness, itchiness or tearing to occur in one or both eyes. During the night, your eyes can excrete discharge that forms a crust across the opening of your eyes. When you wake up in the morning, you may be temporarily unable to open the affected eye due to the buildup of this crusted discharge.
