Dry Eye vs. Eye Allergies — How to Tell the Difference

So your eyes are irritated, and you’re wondering… is it dry eye or allergies?
Let’s walk through how to tell the difference, what overlaps, and when you should see an optometrist in Palo Alto to be sure.

Why it’s so easy to mix them up

Dry eye and eye allergies can cause the exact same complaints:

• Redness
  
• Irritation
  
• Watery eyes
  
• Blurry vision
  

The problem is, the treatment for one isn’t always the treatment for the other. If you’re using allergy drops but actually have dry eye, you might not feel better — and vice versa. That’s why it’s important to know the clues.

What is dry eye, exactly?

Dry eye happens when your tears don’t keep your eyes moist enough. This could be because:

• You’re not making enough tears.
  
• Your tears evaporate too fast.
  
• The oil glands in your eyelids (meibomian glands) are blocked.
  

If you work on a computer all day, blink less often, or spend time in heated/air-conditioned spaces, your eyes can dry out faster.

What are eye allergies?

Eye allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to something harmless — pollen, dust, pet hair, mold — and sends histamines to fight it off. The result?

• Itching (this is the big one)
  
• Redness
  
• Swelling
  
• Watering
  

The easiest way to tell them apart

Symptom	More Likely Dry Eye	More Likely Allergies
Itching	Rare	Common
Burning	Common	Rare
Gritty/sandy feeling	Common	Rare
Watery eyes	Sometimes	Common
Seasonal flare-ups	Rare	Common
Worse with screens	Common	Rare

If your main complaint is itching, allergies are the top suspect. If it’s burning or gritty feeling, dry eye’s more likely.

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The confusing part — you can have both

Here’s the plot twist: dry eye and allergies often show up together. Allergies can inflame the eye’s surface, which messes with your tear film, making dry eye worse. And if you already have dry eye, allergens can irritate your eyes more easily.

That’s why at Refine Optometry, we never just assume — we actually test your tear quality and look for signs of allergy-related inflammation.

How dry eye is treated

If we confirm it’s dry eye, we might:

• Recommend preservative-free artificial tears.
  
• Treat meibomian gland blockages with heat therapy or IPL.
  
• Suggest omega-3 supplements for better tear quality.
  
• Adjust your screen habits (yes, that means blinking more!).

How eye allergies are treated

If allergies are the main issue, the plan changes:

• Antihistamine/mast cell stabilizer eye drops.
  
• Cold compresses to calm swelling.
  
• Avoiding triggers (keep windows shut on high-pollen days in Palo Alto).
  
• Wearing wraparound sunglasses outside.

Home tips that help both conditions

Even though treatments differ, there are some things that help no matter what’s going on:

• Don’t rub your eyes (We know it feels good, but it makes things worse).
  
• Use a humidifier if your home or office air is dry.
  
• Stay hydrated — your eyes need water just like the rest of you.
  
• Take breaks from screens to give your eyes a chance to recover.
  

When will you see an optometrist

If your symptoms aren’t going away after a week of trying home remedies, or they keep coming back, it’s time for a proper exam.
Know hen you should call our optometrist in Palo Alto right away:

• Vision changes that don’t clear up.
  
• Eye pain or light sensitivity.
  
• Over-the-counter drops aren’t helping.
  

Final takeaway

Dry eye and eye allergies share a lot of symptoms, but the main differences are itching (allergies) versus burning/grittiness (dry eye). The tricky part? You can absolutely have both. That’s why seeing an experienced Palo Alto optometry team can save you weeks of trial and error.

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