5 Home Remedies for Alleviating Itchy Eyes

I deal with both chronic dry eye and allergies. So annoying eye symptoms can cause extra problems for me during seasonal changes and allergy flare-ups.

If you deal with any eye symptoms yourself, I'm sure you understand. And I hope you find some of the tips below useful as well.

Seasonal changes and itchy eyes

I've written briefly about my experience dealing with chronic dry eye and allergies in the past. This time I wanted to follow up with some of the best tips I personally use for dealing with eye symptoms. In this case, itchy eyes.

Dealing with an onslaught of symptoms

This time of year, during spring and abrupt weather changes, I tend to have the worst topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) and eczema flare-ups, allergies, and chronic dry eye.

All of these symptoms from these conditions hit me all at once. This tends to be an awful time of year for me as I can't do much but sit at home until symptoms subside. But there are some techniques I've found that help with alleviating symptoms at least a bit.

Allergy related eye symptoms

Itching eyes is a common symptom of allergies. Other eye-related symptoms that may come along with the itchiness are:¹

• Redness
• Watery eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Grittiness
• Burning
• Mucus

While allergies are a common culprit for these eye symptoms, if you need more clarification about what is causing the symptoms, check with your doctor.¹

Ways to soothe itchy eyes

Here are a few tips that I practice to alleviate itchy and irritated eyes.

Avoid your allergens

Okay, this tip is a no-brainer. But I know it can be challenging to do. However, avoiding allergens, even through little acts such as keeping your home and car windows closed, can make a big difference.

Don't rub your eyes

I know, it's tempting to rub your eyes. They're watering, maybe even red, and itching, and you want to rub them to relieve the itch. But speaking from personal experience, please try your best to avoid that. Rubbing your eyes can cause far more damage than you may realize.

Protect and rinse your eyes

Especially if you're sensitive to pollen and are outside, it's a good practice to rinse your eyelids and eyelashes with warm water after being outside or whenever they're feeling irritated. Wearing glasses during high-pollen times can mitigate the pollen contacting your eyes.

Apply a cool compress

This one is a lifesaver for me. I typically soak a clean washcloth in cool water and place it on my eyes. This provides immediate relief for me.

I find that a combination of cool compresses and eye drops can calm down eye irritation quite quickly, within a few days. This leads me to the final tip!

Apply lubricant eye drops (artificial tears)

I personally use lubricant eye drops daily due to chronic dry eye. I suggest them for irritation from allergies and skin conditions to protect the eye and reduce irritation.

There are many good over-the-counter options, but if you're unsure, ask your doctor what they recommend for your unique symptoms.

Mitigating annoying allergy symptoms

While itchy eyes aren't necessarily painful or dangerous, they can still get quite annoying. I like to have specific tools ready in case my eyes bother me, as they tend to this time of year. Always better to be prepared, in my eyes!

Do you experience itchy eyes from allergies, and do you have any tips to add?