When hay fever season rolls around again, it can be a truly miserable time of year for many people. From itchy, watery eyes to a runny nose and dry cough, allergies can cause a ton of discomfort.

If you’re struggling with allergies and the symptoms are affecting your eyes, there are a few things you can do. First, you’ll want to know the signs to look for. Read on to learn more about how allergies impact your eyes – and how to relieve the symptoms.

How Allergies Impact Your Eyes

How do you know if your eye issues are stemming from allergies, like seasonal hay fever, pollen or animal fur? Here are a few key signs to look for:

• Red eyes, both inside and around the eyelids
• An itchy, burning sensation, or even a feeling like something is in your eye
• Watery eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision

How to Relieve Allergy Symptoms in Your Eyes

If you’ve ever struggled with itchy eyes from allergies, you know how miserable it can be. You’re likely looking for just about anything to offer some sort of relief, so start with these tips to help reduce your allergy symptoms.

• Stop touching your eyes. Rubbing your eyes may make them feel better temporarily, but you’re only exacerbating the issue in the long run. Rubbing your eyes causes the allergens to spread and cause your eyes to release more chemicals, which cause them to itch even more. It may sound difficult, but keep your hands away from your eyes as soon as you notice allergies creeping in.

• Remove your contacts. As soon as your eyes become itchy and watery, remove your contacts right away. These may be trapping the allergens even closer to your eye, and if you do rub your eyes, it could damage your contacts or even scratch your eyes.
• Try a cold, damp cloth. Instead of rubbing your eyes, get a clean towel and soak it in some cool water. Ring the water out, then apply the cool compress to your eyes until you start to feel some relief.
• Stay away from the cause of the allergies. At least temporarily, you’ll want to avoid whatever is causing your allergies. If it’s pollen, for example, you may want to spend the day indoors until your eye irritation calms down. If you find that you’re allergic to pet dander, you’ll want to avoid touching or being in close proximity to the animal in question.

• Use artificial tears. Flush your eyes frequently with preservative-free artificial tear drops. Not only will this help to flush out the allergens causing the irritation, it will also offer a feeling of cooling relief.
• Take an over-the-counter allergy medicine. You can commonly find many types of allergy medicines at your local drug store. Try taking an antihistamine to reduce your allergy symptoms, or try a nasal decongestant to clear up your nose and mouth. You can also try allergy-specific eye drops meant for clearing up eye irritation caused by allergies.