Seasonal Allergies and Dry Eye Syndrome: Know the Difference

Seasonal allergies and dry eye syndrome share similar symptoms. However, the two conditions have different underlying causes. Eye allergies can lead to dry eye syndrome. If you are experiencing eye discomfort with or without discharge, you may wonder if it is due to allergies or dry eye syndrome. 

Below are some points to help you learn how to differentiate between seasonal allergies and dry eye syndrome. It will help you know the best treatment approach for your eye discomfort.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Unlike bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, seasonal allergies or allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. It is an eye irritation that happens during different seasons of the year. The symptoms are itching, sneezing, and coughing. It also causes watery discharge, burning sensation, and puffiness of the eyes.

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a condition that causes dryness and discomfort in the eyes. The dryness is due to the low quantity or quality of tears or due to the tears evaporating too quickly. Consequently, the eyes do not have adequate lubrication. The dryness can cause your eyes to become red, watery, and experience a burning sensation. It can also cause fluctuations in vision which can lead to difficulty reading, driving, and performing daily tasks. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage and sensitivity to light in some cases.

But unlike seasonal allergies, the lack of tears does not cause itchiness. Although sometimes people can suffer from both conditions which makes it more difficult to treat.

Causes of Seasonal Allergies

The underlying cause of seasonal allergies is allergens in the environment. They will result in watery eyes, itchiness, and sneezing. The most common allergens are pollen from wind-pollinated plants. These allergens cause your immune system to overreact by releasing histamines. 

Histamines are organic compounds in your body that defend against allergens. They try to remove the allergens from your body by causing you to itch, sneeze, tear up, or cough. Sometimes, the itching may be so severe that your eyes turn red in color, puffy, and burn.

Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

The underlying cause of dry eye can be dysfunctional lacrimal glands. These glands continually release fluid or tears to cleanse, lubricate, and protect the eye. 

If there is a dysfunction in the glands, it causes a low quantity of tears which leaves the ocular surface imbalanced and unprotected. A more common cause is meibomian gland dysfunction which causes the low quality of tears. These glands produce the oily part of tears, and if they are obstructed or inflamed, the oil is not secreted from the gland, leading to decreased lubrication and increased evaporation of the water tears.

Treatment for Seasonal Allergies

The best prevention or treatment for seasonal allergies is to deal with the allergen. Take care not to expose yourself to substances you know will cause allergies. But if you do, taking oral histamine can provide temporary relief. There are also more natural supplements such as quercetin that will give you relief. You can also use eye drops, nasal sprays, and allergy shots in extreme cases.

Treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome

Eye drops may deal with the symptoms but not the underlying cause. It can be helpful to track your symptoms to help your doctor get a more accurate diagnosis. There are numerous ways to diagnose the root cause and then design a treatment plan to address the source and give you long-lasting relief.

For more on seasonal allergies and dry eye syndrome, visit Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness at our office in Southport, North Carolina. You can call (910) 400-1215 today to schedule an appointment.