Key Takeaways
- Dry eye often feels gritty and sandy, while allergies more often feel itchy.
- Sneezing and a runny nose with eye symptoms usually point to allergies.
- Both conditions can cause redness, watering, and light sensitivity.
- You can have dry eye and allergies at the same time.
- An eye exam can pinpoint the reason behind your discomfort and begin to help you find relief.
When your eyes aren’t irritated, you probably don’t even think about them much. But the moment they become uncomfortable from dry eye or allergies, it’s common for them to become all you can think about. At South End Eye, we want to help you find relief, and that often starts with pinpointing the cause of your symptoms. So, how can you tell whether you have dry eye or allergies?
Dry eye can happen when your tears can’t keep your eyes properly lubricated, causing them to feel scratchy or gritty. Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to things like pollen or pet dander, and the most common symptom is intense itching.
An Overview of Dry Eye and Allergies
What Causes Dry Eye
Your eyes need a steady, consistent tear film to stay comfortable and lubricated. When you either don’t produce enough tears or the tears you do produce aren’t of the right quality, it causes dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye is multifactorial, meaning there are many factors contributing to your discomfort. Age, long hours on screens, and dry indoor air all play a part. Some medications (like oral antihistamines) can also reduce the number of tears you produce, leaving your eyes feeling dry or scratchy by the end of the day.
Your meibomian glands are small, oil-producing glands lining your eyelashes. The oil that they produce prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly, and so if these glands get clogged, inflamed, or just aren’t working properly, it can cause dry eye.
What Causes Eye Allergies
Allergies occur when your body treats something harmless as a threat. When pollen, dust, mold, or pet dander lands in your eyes, your immune system releases a substance called histamine. This histamine is a chemical that causes the symptoms of allergies you’re familiar with, like itching and swelling.
How to Tell the Difference
The treatment for dry eye and allergies is different, which is why being able to tell them apart is so key. There are a few main symptoms to look for when trying to figure out which one you may be experiencing. Here are a few distinguishing features:
- Intense itchiness that makes you want to rub your eyes usually points to allergies.
- Having irritated eyes alongside sneezing and a runny nose usually means allergies.
- If your symptoms seem to follow shortly after being exposed to common allergens like pollen or pet dander, it’s likely you’re experiencing allergies.
- If your symptoms seem to follow after spending a long time on screens or when in a dry environment, it’s likely you’re experiencing dry eye.
Symptoms That Can Overlap
Here’s where things get tricky. There are some symptoms that can show up in both allergies and dry eye, which is why many people get them confused. This is why a professional diagnosis can be so important, because treating the wrong condition won’t relieve your discomfort.
Here are some common symptoms that can show up with both allergies and dry eye:
- Redness, watering, and light sensitivity.
- Burning and tired eyes.
- Stringy mucus around the eyes.
If you’re struggling to tell the difference between your symptoms, one of our eye doctors can assess your symptoms during a comprehensive eye exam and recommend treatments for relief.
Can You Have Both Allergies and Dry Eye at the Same Time?
This is a very common question, and the answer is yes, you can have both allergies and dry eye at the same time. In fact, oral allergy medications that are designed to dry up a runny nose can also reduce tear production, which can worsen dry eye symptoms. At the same time, if you don’t have enough tears, your eyes can’t rinse allergens away normally, so irritants linger longer.
That cycle can be hard to break on your own. An eye exam can help clarify what’s contributing to your symptoms so you can move forward with the right treatment plan.
Treatment Options and When to See an Eye Doctor
Relief for Allergies and Dry Eye
Antihistamine drops can calm itchy, allergy-prone eyes, while lubricating drops add moisture when your natural tear production isn’t keeping up. Small habit changes help too, like keeping your distance from known allergens and taking short breaks from your screen so your eyes can rest and refresh.
For persistent dry eye, there are in-office options designed to provide longer-lasting symptom relief. Our eye doctor in Boston can discuss your symptoms and treatment options, such as punctal plugs or intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), which can help your eyes hold onto more moisture. Our team can walk you through which approach fits your unique eyes.
Signs It’s Time for an Eye Exam
Some cases of dry eye or allergies can resolve at home, but there are cases in which it may be helpful to see an eye doctor. If you notice these signs, you may benefit from professional eye care:
- Your symptoms last for weeks or keep getting worse.
- Your daily habits, like reading, driving, or screen time, become more difficult.
- Over-the-counter drops aren’t giving you much relief.
During an exam, our team can assess your tear quality and examine the surface of your eyes to find the contributing factors to your discomfort, so you know you’re treating the right condition.
Schedule Your Eye Exam
You shouldn’t have to guess what’s behind your discomfort. Our team at South End Eye can help you figure out what’s going on and find relief that fits your daily life. Book your eye exam today and give your eyes the attention they’ve been asking for.
