Dry Eyes Vs. Eye Allergies

Sometimes when your eyes are red and irritated, it's hard to know whether you're suffering from allergies or dry eyes. Fortunately, treatments for both are fairly simple.

Identifying Allergies

• Allergies can turn your eyes red and watery. They often come with itching and other allergy symptoms such as a runny nose or even hives. Allergies can come from a wide variety of causes such as animals, mold, dust or pollen.

Identifying Dry Eyes

• Unlike allergies, dry eyes shouldn't itch or accompany hives and a runny nose. They may feel scratchy, like you have dirt in them. Dry eyes are often an effect of exhaustion or even a change in weather.

Treating Allergies

• There are quite a range of treatments for allergies. You can take over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl or use anti-itch eye drops. For more serious fixes, see a doctor about prescription medication or even allergy shots.

Treating Dry Eyes

• Dry eyes can be relieved with over-the-counter eye drops found at your local drug store. Also, try getting more sleep. Remember not to use eye drops every day for a long period of time. Eyes can become dependent on the medicine, causing more dryness when the drops are discontinued.

If Dryness Persists

• If you don't have allergies---and sleep and eye drops don't help---visit a doctor. You may have a more serious issue such as a scratched eye or Dry Eye Syndrome.