I recently switched from water based to acrylic paints. I wear a respirator when painting/clearing. I never wear safety glasses or anything to protect my eyes though.

I painted some yesterday evening and my eyes have been irritated since. They're itching, red, watery, and my left eye was closing up last night. Anyone else have a similar experience after painting?

I haven't had that happen with acrylics, but I did have that happen to me with flotural or something like that when I was painting one the my rooms.

If pollens and such could be ruled out, you might have had a allergic reaction to something in your new paints. Check with your Dr. or allergist.

Are you using the enamel acrylics? I currently use acrylics, but they're water based.

sounds like an allergy maybe, acrylic paint is water based too. I shoot urethanes and lacquers with a respirator but never any eye protection and don't even get problems, which is why this sounds like an allergy thing to me. Exactly what paints are you shooting?

Thanks guys, I was thinking an allergy of some sort also. I'm shooting Smith Wildlife paints.

Wildlife colors are water based paints.   If you did not have this problem shooting c-tex, I doubt the paint is the problem.   Are you using a different cleaner or something else besides the new paint? 

Wildlife colors are water based paints. If you did not have this problem shooting c-tex, I doubt the paint is the problem. Are you using a different cleaner or something else besides the new paint?

Everythings the same besides the paint. I've started using Auto clear, but I haven't cleared in a couple of weeks so I know that's not the reason. I guess at this point it must just be something in the air or around the house, just a coincidence that it happened after I airbrushed.