Warm spring weather is a welcome change after a cold Massachusetts winter. However, if you have eye allergies, those sunny days can also mean more frequent eye allergy symptoms, like itching, burning, or redness.
Eye allergies affect millions of people. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can help you find relief.
In this post, Curtis Frank, OD, and the team at Vision and Ortho-K Center offer six ways to manage eye allergy symptoms and keep your eyes more comfortable and healthier, too.
Spring eye allergies happen when airborne allergens like pollen, mold, or dust trigger an immune response, leading to itching, redness, swelling, and excessive tearing. Unlike eye infections, allergy symptoms usually affect both eyes rather than only one.
Paying attention to your symptoms is essential. In general, symptoms that flare up every season, worsen when you’re outdoors, or spike when pollen levels are especially high usually point to allergies.
Of course, the best and safest way to know for certain what’s causing your symptoms is to schedule an exam so we can provide appropriate treatment. If you have an infection, prompt treatment is critical for preventing complications.
Not surprisingly, preventing allergens from making contact with your eyes plays an important role in reducing symptoms.
Since most allergens are airborne, wearing glasses, sports goggles, or sunglasses whenever you’re outdoors helps shield your eyes from pollen and other irritants, especially on windy days or during peak allergy season.
It’s also important to avoid rubbing your eyes, even when your eyes feel really itchy or irritated. Rubbing releases additional histamines, which in turn can cause symptoms to worsen and persist. Vigorous rubbing can also damage the surface of your eye.
Over-the-counter allergy eye drops reduce itching, redness, and swelling. Often, these products work best when used consistently throughout allergy season rather than only during flare-ups.
Artificial tears can also help by rinsing allergens from your eyes and relieving the gritty irritation that often accompanies eye allergies.
That said, it’s important to know that not all eye drops are safe for long-term use, especially eye drops intended to “get the red out.” In fact, using the wrong eye drops too often can actually worsen eye irritation and lead to chronic discomfort.
Our team offers guidance to help our patients find the right solutions to reduce symptoms and improve long-term relief.
Contact lenses might be more convenient than glasses, but if you’re exposed to allergens, your lenses may wind up trapping those tiny particles against your eye surface, making symptoms more noticeable and intense.
Opting to wear glasses more often during peak allergy season or switching to disposable daily contacts can help reduce allergen buildup and prevent intense symptoms. Of course, it’s also important to clean your lenses regularly using the proper products and techniques.
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple change to reduce allergy symptoms. For instance, keeping windows closed during peak pollen times prevents allergens from entering your home or office, and changing indoor air filters regularly helps, too.
At home, change your bed linens on a regular basis, vacuum frequently using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and change clothes when you come in from the outdoors to help prevent pollen contact in your home.
Perhaps the best way to deal with eye allergy symptoms is to schedule a visit with Dr. Frank and our team.
In addition to ruling out potential infections or other eye issues that cause similar symptoms, we provide targeted treatment explicitly based on your needs for optimal long-term symptom relief and better eye health.
To learn what’s causing your red, swollen, and itchy eyes and how we can help restore comfortable, clear vision, request an appointment with Dr. Frank and the team at Vision and Ortho-K Center in Boston, Massachusetts, today.
