How to Tell the Difference Between Eye Allergies and Infections

Eye allergies or infection diagnosis in Lakewood, NJ

Eye symptoms can be confusing and frustrating, especially when unsure whether you're dealing with allergies or an infection. At InVision Eye Care, our dedicated group of experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists is here to support your eye health and vision through education, diagnosis, and treatment.

Ocean County, Monmouth County, and statewide patients come to our Lakewood, NJ, office for expert eye care and rapid solutions when they have allergies and eye infections.

Patients often ask us how to know whether symptoms are allergies or an infection. Let's discuss the similarities and differences and how we treat both problems.

Signs of Eye Allergies

Eye allergies often stem from irritants like pollen, pet dander, or dust mites. They're not contagious and typically affect both eyes equally. Symptoms may include:

Itching
Burning
Redness
Eye or eyelid swelling
Watery or teary eyes
Mild sensitivity to light

Allergic reactions are often seasonal but persist if you're regularly exposed to indoor allergens.

When we suspect eye allergies, it's important to pinpoint what's triggering your symptoms so we can recommend the ideal treatment.

We offer a quick skin prick test, DoctoRx's Allergy Formula Ocular Allergy Diagnostic System , that can identify 60 unique allergens. The test is tailored for the allergens most common in our part of New Jersey to give you the most accurate results, and it takes less than 15 minutes to get results in our office.

Treatment for eye allergies targets the allergen so that it may include habit changes, eye drops, cool compresses, and other personalized approaches.

Signs That Point to an Eye Infection

Bacteria, viruses, or fungi cause eye infections. They're more serious than allergies and are often contagious. Common symptoms of eye infections include:

Thick yellow or green eye discharge
Crusting around the eyes
Pain or discomfort
Swollen lymph nodes (near the ears)
Blurry vision

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact our office immediately. Infections often require prescription medications or more advanced treatments to protect eye health and eyesight.

Key Differences Between Eye Allergies and Infections

Knowing what sets these two conditions apart can guide you toward the right treatment. This quick reference list may help you distinguish between eye allergies and infections.

Affects Both Eyes: Likely to be allergies, but could be an infection
Affects One Eye: Likely to be an infection
Thick Eye Discharge: Likely to be an infection
Watery Eyes: More common with allergies
Eye Pain: More common with infections
Sporadic: Likely to be allergies
Constant and Worsening: Likely to be an infection

Knowing what you're dealing with may still be challenging, but we're here to provide a rapid diagnosis and treatment plan.

Eye Allergies and Infections Help in Lakewood, NJ

If you have any symptoms discussed above, contact our office at 732-210-0140 to schedule an appointment with one of our talented doctors. We serve patients throughout Lakewood, Ocean County, Monmouth County, and the state of New Jersey, and we look forward to helping you feel better fast.