When you say, “I have allergies,” people expect you to sneeze or have eczema on your skin. But your nose isn’t the only part of your body that gets hit during an allergy attack. You can also have red, swollen, and itchy eyes. 

The usual suspects — pollen, dust mites, pet dander, feathers, and other indoor or outdoor allergens — can set off eye allergy symptoms. With spring in the air, we also have snow mold, tree pollens and cottonwood fluff, weeds, and flowers that can also affect your eyes.

Eye symptoms of allergies include:

• Itching
• Tearing
• Blurred vision
• Burning sensation
• Swollen eyelids
• Sensitivity to light

Eye allergies also known as allergic conjunctivitis is just like any other allergic reaction. It is also caused by a misfiring of the immune system, the body’s natural defense mechanism in response to an allergen like pollen. Cells in your eyes called mast cells release histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation. The result: itching, redness, and watering eyes.