Are your eyes feeling irritated, watery, or itchy? Do they appear red and feel irritated? Having irritated eyes can make it difficult to concentrate on your everyday tasks. There are various different conditions that can lead to itchy and irritated eyes. Learn more about common symptoms of pink eye and seasonal allergies to help you determine when to seek medical care for irritated eyes.
If you’re suffering from irritated and itchy eyes, AFC Urgent Care Southcenter is here to provide rapid symptom diagnosis and treatment. We offer same-day urgent care services for patients in Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Burien, and SeaTac, WA on a walk-in basis. Simply walk into the clinic for rapid care with short wait times, or schedule an appointment online.
Common Causes of Irritated Eyes
Having red and irritated eyes can be incredibly uncomfortable. Not only can it make your eyes itchy and swollen, but it can impact your vision and affect your ability to focus throughout the day. There are a couple of common causes of irritated eyes: Pink eye and allergies.
Common Symptoms of Pink Eye
Pink eye is a bacterial infection that affects the eye. It is very contagious from person to person through direct contact with an infected person. This is especially true for young children in school settings, where hand washing may not happen as often as it should. Symptoms can last as long as 2 to 3 weeks without treatment, so it is important to seek medical care if you think that you have pink eye for appropriate treatment.
Pink eye causes severe discomfort and usually requires medical treatment to resolve in a timely manner. Common symptoms of pink eye include:
- Red and irritated eyes
- Discharge from eyes
- Swollen eyes
- Burning sensation in eyes
Signs that Your Itchy Eyes Are Caused by Allergies
Allergies are a very common cause of itchy eyes. This is especially true during the spring and summer months when common seasonal allergens like pollen are at an all-time high. Unlike pink eye, allergy symptoms tend to be milder and can come and go depending on how often you’re exposed to the allergen that is causing your symptoms. Allergy symptoms are not contagious from person to person and can be easily managed with the correct medications. If your eyes are irritated from allergies, you likely will experience other allergy symptoms such as:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Congestion
- Rashes
- Post-nasal drip
- Sore throat
When to Seek Medical Care for Itchy Eyes
Your eyes are extremely sensitive to injury. Itching your eyes or delaying treatment can lead to further injury to your eyes. To avoid this, it is important to seek medical care for any eye irritation you may be experiencing. A medical professional will be able to evaluate your symptoms and determine the underlying cause of them, which will allow you to accurately treat them for a rapid recovery. In the case of pink eye, your medical provider may prescribe antibiotics or eye drops to help with any discomfort and clear up the infection. Treatment for seasonal allergy symptoms may include lifestyle changes, over-the-counter eye drops, and antihistamines.
Same-Day Diagnosis & Treatment for Itchy Eyes in Kent, WA
If you’re experiencing itchy and irritated eyes, seeking medical care early can help resolve your symptoms quickly so that you can resume your normal day-to-day activities. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, we offer same-day urgent care services for irritated eyes and illness symptom diagnosis 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday. Our medical providers are board-certified and experts at accurately diagnosing and providing treatment for a variety of common conditions including pink eye and seasonal allergy symptom relief. We never require that you schedule an appointment in advance to receive rapid care with short wait times, simply walk into the clinic. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care to self-paying patients. Walk into the clinic today!
