• PROTECTING YOUR EYES DURING ALLERGY SEASON

    Spring is here and summer is almost upon us. During this time of year, a heavy amount of pollen is in the air.

    Unfortunately, for many people, pollen leads to problems with allergies. The dust that is kicked up by the frequent rainfall doesn’t help either. The sniffling and sneezing are annoying enough, but the trouble that pollen and dust causes for your eyes can be the biggest pain.

    HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEASONAL ALLERGIES?

    The three major symptoms that indicate eye allergies are itchiness, redness, and watering of the eyes. This usually accompanies a runny nose, sneezing, and headaches. If you are constantly rubbing your eyes and squinting from the nonstop teariness, you may have eye allergies. If you wear contact lenses, you might also find that they are more uncomfortable. Fortunately, because this is a common problem that 1 in 5 Americans suffer, many medical companies and vision doctors are prepared to help you.

    HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SEASONAL ALLERGY

    Some practical methods of avoiding eye allergy problems include the following:

    • Stay indoors during high-pollen times. Pollen count is typically the highest in the middle of the morning and towards the evening.
    • Close windows. Leaving your windows open in your home or your car invites pollen and dust into an enclosed space and further irritates your eyes.
    • Clean your floor with a damp mop. Your floors can collect pollen and dust that gets kicked around when you walk throughout your house. Sweeping with a broom can stir the dust up, but the dust will stick to a damp mop.
    • Don’t rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can increase your irritation and lead to bigger vision problems.

    Many over-the-counter products are available to combat the symptoms of eye allergies. Your local drug store should have decongestants that combat itchy eye symptoms and eye-drops to help flush pollen and dust out of your eyes.

    YOUR ALLERGIES MAY BE TOO SERIOUS FOR OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION

    If your symptoms persist, you need to visit an eye doctor for help. Don’t ignore your symptoms and try to tough it out. Itchiness, puffiness, and redness can lead to an infection. More powerful versions of allergy medications exists that have to be prescribed by an optometrist. Your vision doctor may recommend other methods of treatment as well, such as an allergy shot that boosts your resistance to allergy symptoms.

    Posted June 2, 2015 by Silverstein Eye Centers
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