Spring is finally here, but with spring comes allergies. The changing of seasons causes many people to experience symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery, red or dry eyes. These symptoms are irritating, but what can you do to prevent them?
Here are some tips on how to survive allergy season:
- Have allergy medication ready in your medicine cabinet. Having medicine or eye drops ready and available is always a safe bet. They can help reduce the severity of your symptoms as soon as they start, and can relieve your symptoms before they become too irritating. Remember that medicine does expire, and make sure to get rid of anything that may have passed its expiration date from past allergy seasons.
- Keep accessories like hats and sunglasses handy. Little things like these provide protection from the sun while limiting the amount of pollen that blows into your eyes when you go outside. If you get allergy symptoms like itchy, watery, red or dry eyes, make sure you protect them when you are outside. You don’t want to spend your allergy season with blurry vision!
- Visit an ophthalmologist or optometrist. If you are having issues with eye allergies or general issues with your eyes, one of these specialists will be able to help you. They can examine your eyes, help treat you, and provide you with medicine or steps to take to help relieve your symptoms. It’s never a bad time to get your eyes checked, so do not hesitate to reach out to an eye doctor near you!
- Consider wearing glasses instead of contacts. The surface of contact lenses can attract airborne allergens, which cause your eyes to become itchy, watery, red or dry. Consider wearing your glasses more often or even switching to daily disposable contacts. This will help you avoid the buildup of allergens in your eyes!
- Drink green tea. If you’re not a tea drinker, now might be a good time to start! In addition to being a healthy alternative to coffee and soda, green tea contains natural antihistamines that can help you fight against allergies and avoid annoying symptoms like irritated eyes.
For more information on keeping your eyes healthy during allergy season, don’t hesitate to contact us and make an appointment today! Our optometrists and ophthalmologists are located in Lexington, Corbin, Cynthiana, Jackson, Maysville, Middlesboro, Morehead, Mt. Sterling, Paintsville, and Versailles. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you find the best way to fight off your symptoms.