73 percent of sufferers report that allergies have caused them to sneeze in a place that should be quiet. Allergens, which can be inhaled, eaten or rubbed into the eyes, cause unpleasant side effects such as sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and itchy throat as the immune system attempts to eliminate the object. No one really knows why some of us react to allergens and others don't. Almost anything can be an allergen, but the most common are pollens, particularly from grasses, trees and weeds. If the pollen wasn't enough of a threat to the allergy sufferer, poison ivy and other plants can produce itchy skin rashes from allergic reactions to the oils the plants contain.
Many foods can also cause allergic reactions.
Allergies to strawberries, cantaloupe and citrus fruits are quite common, causing rashes or intestinal problems. A food intolerance means that your body can't process or digest the food, which is different from an inflammatory allergic reaction. You can get allergies at any time, but typically they develop during childhood, puberty and, in many cases, for women in pregnancy. Once you have an allergy, exposure to that trigger, whether it's dust, strawberries or cats, will cause an allergic reaction. If allergens such as pollen, mold spores, house dust or animal dander settle on our eyes, we can get immediate itching, swelling and redness of the eyes.