Spring is here! The excitement around warmer weather also correlates with an increased risk of seasonal allergies. If you’ve ever experienced seasonal allergies, you probably know they wreak havoc on your eyes. But don’t worry – you can head into Spring better managing your seasonal eye allergies. Use these helpful tips for keeping your eyes happy and healthy during Spring.
Common Seasonal Eye Allergies
If you’re among the lucky folks who haven’t experienced seasonal eye allergies, let’s identify a few of the most common eye allergy symptoms:
- Itchy or burning eyes
- Red swollen eyes
- Watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your eye doctor to rule out any underlying causes. Your doctor can recommend the appropriate treatment if these symptoms are linked to Spring allergies. If you know spring eye allergies will impact you, read on for tips and tricks for reducing your symptoms.
How To Reduce Allergy Symptoms
Limit Your Exposure to Allergens
High pollen days or windy days are always going to be risky for any seasonal eye allergy sufferer. If possible try to stay inside on days where pollen counts or wind speeds are high. Check your local news stations, newspapers, or Internet weather sites for pollen forecasts and allergen risks. Also aim to delegate outdoor chores like lawn mowing that can stir up allergens near to your eyes. If you find yourself outdoors, make sure you’re wearing glasses or sunglasses to minimize the amount of pollen getting into your eyes.
Don’t worry – we’re not suggesting you stay inside forever. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air. After spending time outside, changing clothes and taking a shower can also help limit symptoms, according to the ACAAI.
Avoid Contacts When Experiencing Allergy Symptoms
If you’re typically a contact lens wearer, consider picking up your glasses on days when you notice your allergies acting up. According to the AOA, more than 75% of contact lens wearers complain of allergen-caused eye pain and irritation. This is because the soft lenses can collect airborne allergens, making your symptoms worse and causing serious discomfort. If switching to eyeglasses isn’t an option, daily contact lenses would be the best alternative. Daily disposable lenses can be discarded each day, lessening the likelihood of reinserting any irritation or infection from a prior day into your eyes.
And if you find yourself stuck in your contact lenses and suddenly suffering from itchy eyes, seek out a container of artificial tears and keep your contact lenses wet. When you rewet your contacts, you’re rinsing off the allergens and comforting dry eyes.
Keep Your Indoor Space Clean
While it’s tempting to open up all the windows on a sunny day, doing so increases your exposure to airborne allergens in your home. Try washing your window screen regularly to clear away pollen buildup and dust your indoor space consistently to keep your space free from any possible allergy triggers.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
It’s tempting to rub your eyes if they’re irritated, but doing so can add more irritants and allergens like pollen and pet dander to your eyes. Constant rubbing also risks a corneal scratch or tear, which can lead to infection. If you’re experiencing itchy, irritated eyes, consult a doctor for an eye drop treatment to help treat those symptoms.
Grab Some Shades
Sunglasses are a must-have for any outdoor excursion! Along with protecting from harmful sun radiation, sunglasses can be a handy tool in protecting you from seasonal eye allergies. Sunglasses will help protect the surface of your eyes from direct contact with pollen floating in the air. Wrap-around frames that protect your eyes from all sides are particularly effective. For the best protection, our Purifier polarized sunglasses are a great option for the sunny days ahead.
Wash Your Hands Frequently
Pollen and other seasonal allergens attach to everything! Washing your hands after spending time outside or before touching your face can greatly reduce the risk of exposing your eyes to potential allergy triggers.
Ask Your Eye Doctor About Eye Drops
There are a lot of over-the-counter allergy eye drops to help soothe eye irritation but they don’t work for everyone. We recommend asking your doctor first for the most effective treatment. Our eye doctors can also prescribe eye drops or other medications to give you the relief you need from seasonal eye allergies.
Stay Ahead Of Your Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
We are committed to helping Hoosiers see better, look better and feel better. If you experience seasonal eye allergies, schedule an annual eye exam to discuss possible treatment options. You can schedule your next eye exam online or by calling us at 844-GO-TAVEL.