Tips for protecting your eyes during seasonal allergies

All things begin anew in Spring, including the onset of seasonal allergies. Here we’ll explore how allergies begin, the symptoms, and treatments.

Seasonal allergies and their sources

Tree pollen is the most common culprit. In the Spring you’re guaranteed to see a blanket of bright yellow-green particles everywhere outdoors. Also, weed and mold spores are known to cause seasonal allergies. These particles travel by air, and when your immune system reacts to them, you’ll experience seasonal allergies.

Symptoms

Allergens typically cause of host of symptoms.:

• Tearing eyes, running nose
• Itchy eyes
• Gritty feeling in the eyes
• Red, Irritated eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Sensitivity to light

Tips on fighting back seasonal allergies

Here are ways you can avoid seasonal allergies:

1. Stay Hydrated

   Drinking water keeps your eyes hydrated. Pollen contacting your eyes dry them out very quickly causing many symptoms of allergies.

2. Avoid rubbing your eye

   Irritation can be highly inconvenient. When you are affected by eye allergies, you will feel lots of irritation on the affected eye or eyes, which would tempt you to rub it frequently. But try as much as possible to avoid rubbing your eyes. Doing otherwise would only intensify the symptoms and make the situation more complicated for you. If you feel the itching is becoming too much to bear, then visit your optometrist in Winter Park for checkup and solutions.

3. Avoid rubbing your eye

   When you rub your eye, you can transfer pollen or other allergens from your hand to your eye. Make sure your hand is clean before you rub your eye or avoid it wherever possible.

4. Use Eye Drop Prescribed only for Allergy

   At Eyes of Winter Park, we can provide eye drops such as Lotemax or Patanol that can prevent or alleviate allergies. We will recommend that you avoid using a decongestant type of eye drops like Visine. They have the potential of actually worsening the symptoms of your eye allergy.

5. Use Sunglasses

   Sunglasses can protect your eyes from allergens just as well as they block UV rays. Functionality is another reason on top of style to wear sunglasses in the Spring.

6. Take out hidden triggers in your home

   Seasonal allergy for eyes also caused by exposure to dust, mold, insect droppings, animals’ dander, etc. Spring cleaning is important for making sure the allergies can’t reach you in your home.

7. Humidify the Air

   An air humidifier can make a huge difference inside your home. Your eyes can dry out quick outdoors, so having some moisture in the air inside can save your eyes from drying out.

8. Take off your Contact Lenses

   From the moment you start experiencing eye allergen symptoms, quickly remove any form of contact lenses you have been using before the time of the allergen and replace them. Wear sunglasses to prevent your contacts from getting dirty and keep your contact lenses clean in a solution.

9. Use Eyedrops

   You can use normal eyedrops to keep your eyes moisturized if they begin to feel dry.

Questions? Contact us.