Ah, spring! After a long cold winter, warm weather can’t get here quick enough. Yet, for some people, the spring season is as dreadful as a trip to the dentist. The reason: allergies. Seasonal allergies can cause a host of eye issues, and the symptoms are very similar to occasional dry eye. So, how can you be sure if the itchy, gritty, tired eyes are the symptoms of seasonal allergies or occasional dry eye?

Occasional Dry Eye

Nearly 5 million Americans suffer from occasional dry eye, an issue where the eyes can’t produce enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eyes. There are multiple causes for occasional dry eye, including age, certain medical conditions and medications, or post eye surgery such as LASIK, cataract, or glaucoma surgery.

Occasional Dry Eye Symptoms

• Burning (primary sign)
• Corneal and conjunctival staining
• Reduced tear production
• Sandy and gritty feeling
• Feeling of a foreign particle in the eye
• “Tired” eyes or eye fatigue
• Photophobia (rarely)

Seasonal Allergies

Allergies affect 50 million Americans every year, and 30 million people experience seasonal-specific allergies. With these seasonal symptoms, 70-80% of people experience eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis. Pollen from grass, weeds, and trees are the main culprits for seasonal allergies.

Seasonal Allergies Symptoms

• Itching (primary sign)
• Swollen lids
• Watery eyes
• Burning
• Feeling of a foreign particle in the eye

Distinguishing Which is Which

So, which one do you have? There are a few questions you can answer to help you distinguish between allergies or occasional dry eye:

• Do you have a family history of allergies?
• When performing certain activities, do you have incidents of intense itching with tearing, redness, or swelling?
• Do you ever use eye drops for itching or redness?
• Do you use oral antihistamines at any time of year?
• Are symptoms more noticeable when reading, watching TV, or using a digital device?
• Do you notice symptoms more under certain climatic conditions like central air conditioning, forced hot air heating, or very dry weather?
• When you rub your eyes, does it provide relief or make matters worse?
  • Rubbing the eyes can stimulate tears and relieve discomfort for those with occasional dry eye.
  • Adversely, patients with allergies will feel worse because it causes mast cell degranulation, a process that allows allergens to attach to the receptors in the eyes and cause the reaction.

A Single Solution

If you have chronic symptoms of either occasional dry eye or seasonal allergies, make sure you talk to your eye doctor for the best care plan. However, daily supplementation with a high-quality Omega-3 vitamin may be the solution for either ailment. EyePromise^® EZ Tears™ is specifically formulated to help produce more natural tears with a greater level of lubrication to relieve eye discomfort and irritation. Packed with highly potent Omega-3s plus 7 additional soothing ingredients proven to help, EyePromise EZ Tears™ is guaranteed to help alleviate symptoms in 30 days or your money back.

Find out what ingredients EZ Tears includes and how each one helps support comfortable eyes.

Sources

1. Bowling, Ernie L. “Is It Dry Eye, Allergy or Both?” Review of Optometry, Jobson Medical Information LLC., Sept. 2012, reviewofoptometry.com/ce/is-it-dry-eye-allergy-or-both.
2. Dang, Shirley. “The Link between Seasonal Allergens and Dry Eye.” Edited by Devin A Harrison, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 20 Apr. 2017, aao.org/eye-health/news/allergies-linked-to-dry-eye.
3. Torkildsen, Gail, et al. “Dry Eye or Allergy: How to Make the Call.” Review of Ophthalmology, Jobson Medical Information LLC., 30 Dec. 2005, reviewofophthalmology.com/article/dry-eye-or-allergy-how-to-make-the-call.
4. Kabat, Alan. “How to Differentially Diagnose and Treat Dry Eye, Allergy.” Healio, Healio, Nov. 2004, healio.com/optometry/cornea-external-disease/news/print/primary-care-optometry-news/%7B9a36e7a1-f61c-4c1c-afec-1d84ef52ae4e%7D/how-to-differentially-diagnose-and-treat-dry-eye-allergy.
5. Groves, Nancy. “Allergy or Dry Eye: Which Is It?” OphthalmologyTimes, UBM Medica, LLC., 15 Mar. 2016, modernmedicine.com/ophthalmologytimes/news/allergy-or-dry-eye-which-it.