The most common causes of eyeAllergies are seasonal allergies to pollen and mold spores. People with seasonal hay fever (allergic rhinitis) normally notice their symptoms worsen when they go outdoors on days with high pollen counts.

Indoor allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander, can also cause eye allergies year-round. If you suffer from this type of allergy, you may notice your symptoms worsen during certain activities such as cleaning your house or grooming a pet.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
If your symptoms are related to an eye allergy, chances are you will have problems in both eyes. Typical symptoms include:
• Watery eyes
• Itchiness
• Sensitivity to light
• Redness
• Grittiness
• Eyelid swelling

These symptoms can occur alone or along with allergic rhinitis nasal symptoms. They typically appear shortly after exposure to the allergen.

An allergist / immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, has specialized training and experience to determine which allergens are causing your symptoms and discuss which treatment options are right for you. An allergist / immunologist can also offer valuable advice for avoiding your triggers.

Your allergist will take a detailed health history, perform a physical exam and then most likely test you for allergies. Skin prick tests may show the results within 20 minutes, though delayed reactions may take longer to appear. Blood tests and conjunctival challenge tests may also be considered.

An allergist performing a conjuctival challenge test will apply either dry materials or liquid materials, containing allergen concentrations, to one eye and apply a placebo to the other eye to serve as a control.