Eye Allergies

What are eye allergies?

Eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis) develop when you come into contact with allergens in your environment. You might experience allergy symptoms seasonally, especially if you have hay fever. Some people suffer from year-round allergies depending on their underlying allergy triggers.

Contact with allergens causes a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including sneezing and nasal congestion. You might also experience eye-related allergy symptoms like:

• Eye redness
• Watery eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Eye swelling

Wicker Park Eye Center offers diagnostic evaluations for symptoms of eye allergies. Dr. Tepper designs a treatment to reduce the severity and frequency of eye-related symptoms. He also focuses on preventing the eye damage and vision problems sometimes caused by moderate to severe eye allergies.

When should I seek medical attention for eye allergies?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Wicker Park Eye Center if you have eye allergy symptoms that you can’t manage on your own. You can also schedule an evaluation if your symptoms continue for several weeks or months and interfere with your quality of life.

In addition to watering, itching, and swelling, eye allergies can cause:

• Blurry vision
• Burning
• Bloodshot eyes
• Increased light sensitivity

Without treatment, these symptoms can affect your long-term eye health. You could also be at increased risk of eye damage if you frequently rub your eyes to relieve itching and irritation.

Dr. Tepper completes a comprehensive eye exam. He assesses your eye’s surface and interior with a slit lamp to check for swelling, dilated blood vessels, and other eye allergy complications. You might also need a skin prick test to identify what’s causing your allergy.

How are eye allergies treated?

How your eye allergies are treated will depend on how severe your symptoms are. Wicker Park Eye Center offers several effective treatments to relieve eye discomfort and protect your vision.

Dr. Tepper may recommend over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications. He might also suggest immunotherapy (allergy shots) to reduce your immune system’s overreaction to environmental allergens.

To ease eye discomfort and inflammation, you’ll need moisturizing eye drops. Dr. Tepper can also complete routine eye exams to ensure that your eyes are healthy and your vision is clear.

Call Wicker Park Eye Center today to schedule an evaluation for eye allergies or book an appointment online.