Doctors Say These Eye Drops for Allergies Are Must-Haves to Soothe Itching and Redness

We updated this article in April 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

Sneezing and sniffling are just a few of the hallmarks of allergy season, and if you’re an allergy sufferer, you know that spring allergy symptoms can leave you miserable when pollen counts start to boom. You don’t have to keep rubbing and wiping your eyes, though—thanks to a variety of over-the-counter eye relief solutions, irritated eyes can be a problem of the past. Here’s a look at what makes different types of eye drops for allergies work, plus expert-approved tips for finding the right kind for you.

Symptoms due to allergies can vary, but for some, red, watery, and itchy eyes can be very common due to spring pollen, says Rachael A. Wruble, O.D, an eye allergy specialist. This is because when allergies hit your eyes, histamine is released, she explains. This can cause an allergic response that makes your eyes react. Using certain eye drops can help relieve some of those symptoms, like an antihistamine eye drop that blocks those histamine receptors and ends the itch, she says.

Be sure to see your eye care professional before picking up any allergy-related eye drops to get a correct diagnosis, Dr. Wruble warns. Something that may seem like an allergy may actually be a bacterial infection, fungal, or viral.

How we chose the best eye drops for allergies

We consulted eye experts like Vivienne Hau, M.D., Ph.D., a Kaiser Permanente ophthalmologist and retina specialist, Ming Wang, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical professor at Meharry Medical College and cataract and Lasik eye surgeon, Joseph Dizon, M.D., an allergist an immunology specialist, Benjamin Bert, M.D., a California-based ophthalmologist, and Rachael A. Wruble, O.D, an eye allergy specialist to determine what you should look for when shopping for eye drops for allergies. We also reviewed the Good Housekeeping Institute’s top picks, which tests countless products to ensure a fair and accurate representation of each item and reviewers who have shared their own insights.

Our top picks:

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Ready to get some much-needed relief? Check out some doctor-recommended allergy eye drop picks below. And remember: If you don’t see any improvements or your symptoms are accompanied by vision changes, discharge, or pain, see your eye doctor right away. You might require prescription-strength drops or have an underlying issue that’s making the problem worse.