Itchy eyes typically start as nothing more than an urge to rub or wipe your eyes clean that gradually worsens until you see yourself with red, swollen, and itchy eyes in the mirror. If these issues persist all day long, no matter what you do, you may be dealing with severe allergies. Swollen red eyes could also mean an eye infection if you also experience light sensitivity, pain, and discharge on top of the itchiness. Below, we outline the home remedies you can try to get some much-needed relief for your allergy-affected eyes.
Five ways to find relief
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a common allergic reaction that leads to a host of symptoms such as:
- Nasal congestion.
- Runny nose.
- Sneezing.
- Itchy ears, nose, throat and/or mouth.
Besides the above, allergies also come with the most agonising symptom affecting your vulnerable eyes. According to healthcare providers, itchiness develops among those with sensitive eyes simply due to exposure to the usual triggers like pollen, mould, grass, and so on.
The best way to stave off these health issues is by taking your allergy medication early, which is highly recommended since allergy cases are worse now than ever before. If you still experience mild allergic reactions, the following home remedies can help you find relief.
1. Use a cold compress
If you are looking for last-minute relief for your itchy eyes for a sound slumber, using a cold compress can help alleviate the issue. Simply place a cold and damp washcloth over your eyes to reduce blood flow and swelling in the affected area and get some much-needed relief before bed.
2. Take eye drops
Using over-the-counter eye drops is naturally a no-brainer whenever you have itchy eyes, but it is important to note that there are different kinds of eye drops available. For example, there are artificial tears made to help with dry eyes and eye drops that reduce redness by shrinking the eye’s blood vessels.
These will not help with your itchy and swollen eyes, so get allergy drops designed to block your body’s histamine response and resolve the itchiness, redness, and dryness in your eyes all at once. To experience the most relief, use allergy drops consistently at the start of your day.
3. Shower before bed
As much as possible, reduce your exposure to allergens to decrease the symptoms you experience. Since your hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and eyelids collect pollen as you go about your day, they can leave allergens all over your bedding and other spaces in the home unless you take a shower first. As such, it is highly recommended to include bathing in your routine before heading to bed and better secure a good night’s sleep.
4. Replace your bedding more frequently
Allergens that cause itchy eyes build up over time in fabrics. Thus, besides showering, replacing your bedding more often and washing them in hot water every week to reduce your exposure to pollen, dust, pet dander, and mould is also advisable. Also, change your clothes immediately when you get home after being outside and wash them more frequently to achieve the same preventative effect.
4. Close the windows and invest in an air purifier
Allowing outside air into your home brings a great risk of letting in allergens like tree pollen and airborne grass into your home, which could make it impossible for you to find relief. As such, keep them closed at all times during allergy season or when there are sudden shifts in the weather. For additional protection, consider investing in an air purifier for each of your most frequented spaces for superior allergen control of your indoor air.
Conclusion
Dealing with itchy eyes that never seem to go away is among the worst symptoms of an allergic reaction. Apart from the tips above, it should go without saying to avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible. This is to prevent transferring pollen that may be on your hands and clothes and other bacteria onto your eyes and causing an infection.
If home remedies are not enough to fix your swollen and itchy eyes, get help from a certified doctor today via the MYCLNQ app. As the leading app for telemedicine in Singapore, MYCLNQ allows you to access key medical services in just a few clicks, including private ambulance transport, online medical consultation, and more. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
Source of Information: Cleveland Clinic