Spring has sprung – that means eye allergies are back, too! Seasonal eye allergies are common and can occur in spring, summer, and/or fall. The cause of these allergies is pollen from trees, grass, and/or weeds.
Allergy symptoms can look different from person to person, but here are some common reactions you can look for:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Irritation
- Dryness
- Watery eyes
- Burning sensation
Now that you have an idea of what to expect, here’s what you can do to get some relief:
- Use lubricating eye drops and/or artificial tears.
- These can both provide soothing relief and help flush out any particles.
- Shop We Love Eyes products to clear up symptoms.
- We recommend a foaming cleanser and a tea tree cleansing oil to do a thorough job at cleaning up your eye margin and combatting redness, itchiness, dryness, discomfort, and more.
- You can shop these products both in-store and online.
- Ask us for coupons for over-the-counter allergy eye drops.
- Spoiler alert: we’ll give them to you! That’s a perk of working with a small, local, independent eye care practice. We have access to exclusive coupons, rebates, and discounts, and we’ve got you covered.
- Remove and toss out your current pair of contact lenses.
- You don’t want to keep putting those contaminated lenses back on your eyes to make it worse! Opt for a fresh pair instead (yes- even if you use reusable contact lenses).
- Another tip: Switch from reusable contact lenses to daily contact lenses! No more storing, cleaning, and reusing old, dry contact lenses. Grab a fresh pair each morning, with no hassle and optimal comfort, and toss them out at the end of each day. Ask us how you can try daily contact lenses.
- Swap your contact lenses for glasses.
- Contact lenses attract and trap particles near your eye which can worsen allergy symptoms.
- Give your eyes a well-needed break by using glasses for the time being, or when pollen levels are particularly high.
- Wear your favorite pair of sunglasses when you’re outside.
- Not only do they provide UV protection for your eyes and cut glare with polarization, but they also put a physical barrier between you and pollen particles, keeping them from getting into your eyes and causing a fuss in the first place!
- Keep your windows closed and use the air-conditioning instead.
- Whether you’re in your car or at home, keeping your windows closed lowers your risk for getting eye allergy symptoms.
While getting relief from your symptoms is great and important, prevention is even better! To best prevent yourself from getting eye allergy symptoms in the first place, or to lessen their impact, we recommend you start using the We Love Eyes cleansing regimen as soon as possible, wear sunglasses every time you’re outside, and use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops routinely!
In the event you do come down with some nasty symptoms this year, you can always count on us to take care of you. Call or click to schedule a Medical Office Visit with Dr. Anna Koeck to seek treatment for your eye allergies. Remember that preventative care is always better than treating a problem after it arises. Take care of yourself and have a great spring!