What’s the Best Allergy Medicine for Red Eyes? A Pharmacist Explains

By Samer Altameemi - Rph (See affiliate disclosure below)

Red, itchy, watery eyes are one of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies. During allergy season, pollen, mold, and other allergens can irritate the surface of your eyes, causing inflammation that makes the blood vessels enlarge. This is why your eyes become red, itchy, watery, and sometimes swollen.

This is a common question for a pharmacist.

The answer depends on whether your allergies are affecting only your eyes, your nose, or your entire body.

Are Your Allergies Only Affecting Your Eyes?

If your only symptoms are red, itchy, watery eyes, an allergy eye drop is usually the best treatment because it works directly where the allergic reaction is occurring.

Pataday® (Olopatadine)

Pataday® Once Daily Relief (olopatadine) is usually my first recommendation for allergy-related red eyes.

Olopatadine is an antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer, meaning it not only blocks histamine that causes allergy symptoms but also helps prevent the release of other inflammatory chemicals involved in the allergic reaction.

It helps relieve:

• Redness

• Itching

• Watery eyes

• Allergy-related irritation

For most people, one drop once daily provides effective symptom relief.

Zaditor® (Ketotifen)

Zaditor® is another excellent OTC allergy eye drop.

Like olopatadine, ketotifen works as both an antihistamine and mast cell stabilizer, helping treat current symptoms while reducing the allergic response. It is typically used twice daily.

Are Your Eyes Red Along with Nasal Allergy Symptoms?

If your red eyes occur with:

• Sneezing

• Runny nose

• Nasal congestion

• Postnasal drip

then treating your nose can often improve your eye symptoms as well.

For moderate to severe seasonal allergies, I often recommend an intranasal corticosteroid such as Flonase® (fluticasone), and Nasacort® (triamcinolone).

These medications reduce inflammation throughout the nasal passages and may also help relieve allergy-related eye symptoms. They work best when used every day during allergy season, rather than only when symptoms flare up.

Are You Having Allergy Symptoms Throughout Your Body?

If your red eyes are part of more generalized allergies—with symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose, runny nose, and itchy skin—adding an oral antihistamine can provide additional relief such as Allegra® (fexofenadine), Claritin® (loratadine), and Zyrtec® (cetirizine).

These medications treat your body's overall allergic response but usually aren't as effective as allergy eye drops for relieving eye symptoms alone.

For more information on how the select the best fit product, visit our Antihistamines Selection Guide.

Are Your Eyes Dry and Irritated?

Sometimes allergies or some allergy medications reduce tear quality and frequent rubbing can make your eyes feel dry, gritty, or irritated.

In addition to treating the allergy, using preservative-free artificial tears can help:

• Wash allergens off the surface of the eye.

• Improve moisture.

• Reduce irritation and burning.

• Make allergy eye drops more comfortable.

Artificial tears such as Refresh®, Systane®, or Blink® can safely be used to moisturize the eyes, reducing the effect of irretants on the eye.

For more information on how the select the best fit product, visit our Dry Eye Selection Guide.

When Should You See an Eye Doctor?

Red eyes aren't always caused by allergies. Seek prompt medical care if you have:

• Eye pain.

• Blurred or decreased vision.

• Sensitivity to light.

• Thick yellow or green discharge.

• An eye injury.

• Redness affecting only one eye without itching.

These symptoms may indicate an eye infection or another condition that requires medical evaluation.

A Pharmacist's Tip

Many people assume every red eye is caused by allergies, but that's not always true. If your eyes are itchy, watery, and red, allergies are likely the cause. If they're painful, affect your vision, or produce thick discharge, don't treat them as allergies—have your eyes evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Found OTC  is your place to find smart over-the-counter solutions for common daily conditions, designed by the pharmacist.

Pharmacist Reviewed: the information in this article was clinically reviewed by Samer Altameemi, a licensed pharmacist. It is intended for educational purposes, not to substitute for a doctor's professional medical advice.

Disclosure: some links in the above article are affiliate links where we might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.