According to the National Institute of Health, millions of Americans experience allergy symptoms that often cause itchy eyes. The good news is that the cause of these symptoms are often avoidable or easily treated by over-the-counter or prescription medication. Here’s the basic idea of what happens during an allergic reaction: The part of the eye usually affected is called the conjunctiva, a clear layer of skin overlying the eyes. Irritation to this part of the eye can cause allergic conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva that can cause itching), which can be either seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), in which a person experiences symptoms for a short period of time, or perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC) in which a person experiences reactions throughout the year.

Common causes of eye allergies are: pollen, grass, weeds, dust, and pet dander. But don’t worry, you don’t have to get rid of your pet or stay indoors all the time. Most eye allergies can be treated by medications such as eye drops and oral antihistamines for mild cases. If the condition is more serious, then a doctor can prescribe special eye drops that reduce itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms.

Sometimes your body makes tears at a faster rate than they can be evaporated or drained, this can lead to watery eyes or excess tearing. Usually, there’s no cause for worry. According to Mayo Clinic.com, having watery eyes is a natural response to emotions or to cold, windy weather and is often not a sign of a serious health issue. Irritation caused by allergies, minor infections, or even dry eyes can also cause excess tearing. In these cases, the tears usually clear up when the underlying issue is treated.

Common causes of eye allergies are: pollen, grass, weeds, dust, and pet dander. But don’t worry, you don’t have to get rid of your pet or stay indoors all the time. Most eye allergies can be treated by medications such as eye drops and oral antihistamines for mild cases. If the condition is more serious, then a doctor can prescribe special eye drops that reduce itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms.

PubMed, a database belonging to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, describes “Pink eye” as a term commonly used to describe redness produced by an inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids (conjunctivitis). Although it sounds complicated, it’s a minor eye disease that many people experience and overcome without much issue. Conjunctivitis occurs when the eye is exposed to bacteria or other irritants, causing tears to be produced in an effort to wash away the foreign objects. Symptoms of conjunctivitis can include: blurred vision, overnight formation of crust, increased tearing, itching of the eye, redness, and sometimes even light sensitivity.

Treatment of conjunctivitis can depend on the cause, but it’s usually a quick fix once the source of irritation is found. For example, an allergy-related case can be resolved when the allergen is removed or the allergic reaction is treated. Bacterial infections can be cured with antibiotic medication, usually in the form of eye drops. Pink eye often disappears on its own, but many doctors recommend mild antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection.

Light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, happens to many people and is not necessarily an indication of eye disease. If there is an underlying problem causing light sensitivity, some people can experience pain. In this case, it would be best to see a doctor to resolve the issue. Generally speaking, many cases of photophobia are easily treated. An online article published in the New York Times Health section lists common causes of photophobia: excessive wearing of or badly fitted contact lenses; eye disease or injury; eye infections or inflammation; and migraine headaches. Some drugs such as atropine and phenylephrine can also contribute to light sensitivity. If this is the case, tell your doctor about your sensitivity and ask to have your treatment or prescription reviewed to see if they can find a drug you react better to. Seeing an optometrist on a regular basis can also help to make sure your prescription lenses fit correctly and are the correct magnification. Minor discomfort can also be reduced by avoiding sunlight, wearing sunglasses, and darkening a room.

Floaters are specks in the shape of spots, thread-like strands, or squiggly lines that seem to float around in a person’s field of vision. These shapes move when the eye moves and dart away when a person tries to focus on them. Most people experience floaters and gradually learn to ignore them, but floaters become more apparent when looking at something very bright, like a white piece of paper or a sunny sky. The National Eye Institute’s article on Floaters attributes their occurrence to the vitreous humor (a gel-like substance that fills 80 percent of the inner eye) slowly shrinking. As the fluid is reduced, it becomes stringy and these strands cast tiny shadows on the retina, the light-sensitive portion in the back of the eye. The change in the vitreous humor is generally benign and usually occurs as part of the natural aging process. Floaters are harmless most of the time and usually settle below the line of sight, gradually becoming less bothersome.

There are some less common but more serious causes of floaters. Because of these risks, it is important to get dense or numerous occurrences of floaters diagnosed by a doctor. For these rarer cases, a health care provider can recommend a vitrectomy, where the vitreous humor is removed and replaced with a salt solution. Surgery is not recommended for non-harmful cases of floaters.

A Mayo Clinic.com article defines eye strain as when a person’s eyes get tired from intense use caused by driving a car, reading, or working at a computer for extended periods of time. Although uncomfortable, the condition is generally not serious and will subside once the eyes are rested. Symptoms of eye strain include: sore or itchy eyes, watery eyes, dry eyes, blurred or double vision; shoulder, neck, or back soreness; and increased light sensitivity. Since most cases are not serious, it is often easily prevented or treated. Some remedies can be applied at home or work and can prevent eye strain. For example, make sure to have a good, bright light source when doing work that requires close-up vision or when reading. For computer work, it is better to position the monitor directly in front at eye level at least 20 inches away. Increasing font size can also help when extensively reading documents. Position the monitor so that the brightest sources of light are at a right angle to the monitor and consider turning off some or all of the overhead lighting, as problem light sources generally come from above or behind and include fluorescent lighting and sunlight. It is also advisable to blink often and take breaks from staring at monitor throughout the day. Most importantly, be sure to visit an optometrist frequently to make sure glasses or contacts are the correct prescription.