It is the absolute WORST time of the year. It’s allergy season. The pollen is thick, we're popping that Zyrtec, and we’re keeping eye drops within reach. If you find that your nose is stuffy, and your eyes are itchy—a common reason is because it’s allergy season. But what if it’s not allergies? There could be a few reasons why your eyes are itchy and we’re here to help!

An important note before we get started, we're not doctors. Don't take any of this as medical advice: We've just got a lot of long-term allergy sufferers here at Bomber HQ, and here's the insight they had for you. 

So, why are my eyes so itchy?

Culprit #1: Seasonal Allergies

As we mentioned, seasonal allergies can cause itchy eyes around a specific time of the year (usually the springtime and parts of summer, when everything dries out and literal flowers try to kill you). One way to tell if you’re dealing with an allergy, as opposed to an eye infection, is that you’ll have other allergic reactions, such as sneezing and nasal congestion. You can soothe these itchy eyes by taking allergy medicine, using eye drops, and keeping pollen out of your eyes and airways by taking showers or splashing cold water on your face. But again, make sure you talk to your doctor before taking any medication-related steps to solve your allergies. 

Other Allergies

There are other allergies outside of seasonal. These allergies you may get all year long because you may be allergic to a food or animal -- or at Bomber HQ, the dust that rolls in with our packing boxes. Luckily a lot of the same cures are the same as seasonal allergies. Take an allergy medication, use eyedrops and keep your eyes fresh with a washcloth and/or ice. Severe allergies will need medical attention and prescription allergy medication, so be on the alert for anything that was "different" before you developed allergy symptoms. A new lotion? Your boss's cologne changed? You got a cat? The options are endless, and only your doctor can tell you exactly what to do. 

Dry Weather

Yes—allergy season can cause your eyes to feel dry and irritated, but so can dry weather. If you’re on a beach vacation soaking up the sun all day—so are your eyes. Protect your face and body with sunscreen, but the only way to protect your eyes is with high-quality sunglasses. TIGER Bomb has the perfect sleek look with wrap-around frames with wide-width lenses so they won’t slip off. Just try not to rub salt water in your eyes. Sorry, but we can't help you with that one. 

Airborne Irritants

Some people are particularly sensitive to smoke, diesel exhaust, or even certain perfumes. Avoiding exposure to these irritants is the simplest solution. Soothing eye drops or a cool, damp cloth over eyes may help you feel better fast. Other irritants include dirt, wind, and debris. Investing in high-quality sunglasses like the CLUTCH Safety have removable side shields to block wind, fend off debris, and add full ANSI Z87+ protection.

Contact Lens Complications

Keeping your contacts lenses in too long or failing to replace your lenses regularly can irritate your eyes, making them itchy and red. If you wear contact lenses, remember to take them out at night and follow other basic lens care steps. Follow your doctor’s advice about how to care for your lenses and how often you should replace them. You can also alternate between contact lenses and prescription glasses to give your eyes a rest. Bomber RX offers prescription versions of some of our most popular frames, so if you want to skip the contacts while you're out on the water or hiking in the woods, our prescription frames are a great option.

Dry Eye

Tears—which are a combination of water, oil, and mucus (sorry, that's gross)—keep your eyes moist and refreshed. However, for various reason, sometimes your eyes can feel dryer than usual. Dry eye can happen due to age, medical conditions, or side effects from medications. Treating dry eyes may be as simple as using over-the-counter artificial tears, which are available as drops. However, if the problem persists, please see a doctor as you may need medical-strength eye drops or a specialized treatment plan.

Eye Strain

Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time, reading in a poorly lit area, or driving for long periods of time can strain your eyes, causing them to feel itchy and tired. One of the best ways to assist with this is by using Blue Light Glasses. Blue light from screens can cause blurry vision, eye strain, headaches, loss of sleep, and even macular degeneration—ultimately, resulting in permanent eye damage. Bomber Blue Light frames offer the protection you need with UV-blocking lenses.

Eye Infections

Ugh, we gotta be serious for a minute here: Your eyes are vulnerable to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections — all of which can bring on itchy eyes. One of the more common eye infections is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because the white part of the infected eye turns pink. (Gross.) It’s very contagious and often accompanied by drainage from the affected eye. (Double gross.) Another infection is called uveitis which is an inflammation of the iris and can cause eye pain, sensitivity to light and itchiness. (Less gross, but just as annoying.) Both types of infections should be evaluated and treated by a doctor as they may require antibiotics and prescription medicine.

Itchy eyes can be caused by several things, some more serious than others. If you find that you have frequent red, itchy eyes, talk with your doctor about treatment options. A good pair of glasses can block out the worst of the pollen, but we're not doctors, so definitely get an expert opinion before you stop taking your Claritin. Shop Bomber Eyewear for some of the best summer styles, and stock up on side shields to keep those fuzzy little pollen monsters out of your eyes!