Can Allergies Increase Eye Pressure?
People with allergies often experience several uncomfortable symptoms like sneezing, wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes, tearing, and more. If you have allergies, your eyes may also become strained frequently, especially if you rub them often. This eye discomfort may feel like pressure, and you might start wondering whether allergies can contribute to increased eye pressure. This question will be addressed in this article, along with an explanation of how eye pressure develops, the reasons why high eye pressure can be a problem, and how it can be effectively treated.
What is Eye Pressure?
Eye pressure, or intraocular pressure (IOP), is crucial for the eye to maintain its typical shape and structure. A clear fluid called aqueous humour maintains this pressure, supplies vital nutrients, and removes waste. This fluid moves through the front part of the eye before being drained. In healthy eyes, there is a good balance between fluid production and drainage.
Why Can High Eye Pressure be a Problem?
Eye pressure starts building when the aqueous humor doesn’t drain properly, but continues to be produced, which can disrupt this balance and create an excessive amount of fluid in the eye, thereby building eye pressure. This happens most commonly due to a blockage, but can also have other reasons, including inflammation or eye injury.
Risk factors for developing high eye pressure include being over the age of 40, having a family history of glaucoma, thin corneas, severe near or farsightedness, or other medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines and using certain medications. Untreated eye pressure can put you at severe risk for developing glaucoma, which damages your optic nerve and eventually leads to irreversible vision loss.
Can Allergies Increase Eye Pressure?
Allergies rarely increase eye pressure on their own. However, they are often associated with itchy or teary eyes, which cause affected individuals to rub them frequently, which can temporarily increase eye pressure. Allergy symptoms are also commonly treated with steroid eye drops. If there is overuse, eye pressure can rise. In rare cases, allergies may cause severe enough swelling to slow the drainage of aqueous humor, thereby increasing eye pressure.
While allergies rarely cause increased eye pressure, it’s well known that they can make your eyes blurry temporarily. Allergy triggers, such as pollen, dust, or pet dander, often cause the surface of your eye to become inflamed, a condition also known as allergic conjunctivitis. This condition is accompanied by typical allergy symptoms, including red, itchy, and watery eyes, swelling, as well as excessive tearing and mucus. All these symptoms, together with excessive eye rubbing, can make your eyes blurry.
How Can High Eye Pressure be Treated?
Since vision loss from high eye pressure and glaucoma is often irreversible, early detection and regular check-ups are crucial for preserving your eyesight. Several treatment options can help reduce your eye pressure. The most commonly used choice is eye drops, which may either reduce the production of aqueous humor or improve drainage. Examples of these medications include Xalatan and Betaxolol. Other options include oral medicines that lower fluid production, such as Diamox (Acetazolamide), as well as laser therapy and surgery. Regularly consult your doctor to monitor the effectiveness of your treatment and protect your vision.
