Caring for Your Eyes During Allergy Season-Tips and Tricks

Allergy season is in full swing, and many individuals are feeling the effects. One of the most annoying features of allergy season is how allergies affect the eyes. What are some ways you can combat allergy season? Here are some tips and tricks.

Are you dealing with allergies or is it something else?

Before treating your eyes for allergies, you should ensure that what you’re dealing with isn’t something more. Some symptoms of illness overlap with allergies. Allergies of the eye include but are not limited to:

• redness of the eyes
• itchy eyes
• watery eyes
• swollen eyelids
• runny eyes
• hypersensitivity to light

One way to determine whether you have allergies or an illness is to look for when you react. If you react when exposed to allergens, you are likely experiencing allergies. If you have a fever or body aches, you may be experiencing something a little more serious, and it’s time to consult a physician.

10 Ways to Reduce Your Eye-Related Allergic Reactions

1. Limit Your Outside Time
   It’s not a solution that you need to implement forever, but limiting your time outside is a good idea, especially during high pollen counts.
2. Keep Your Windows Closed in Both Your House and Your Car
   Keeping windows closed will reduce the allergens that can get inside your house.
3. Wear Sunglasses
   Sunglasses have a significant effect on the eye. They protect the eye from pollutants and irritants, including harmful allergens.
4. Frequently Wash Your Hands
   When you wash your hands, you are removing allergens that have travelled into your house via your hands.
5. Try to Avoid Touching Your Eyes
   Allergens can travel into the eye on the hands. Don’t touch your eyes.
6. Use the Weather App To Observe Air Quality
   Several weather apps are useful for observing air quality. Avoid the great outdoors when the pollen count is high.
7. Use a Dehumidifier to Reduce Mildew and Mold
   Running a dehumidifier in your house will reduce Mold, mildew, and indoor allergies.
8. Rinse Eyes With Saline or OTC Eye Drops
   Several types of over-the-counter eye drops can be used to combat allergies. Saline drops can help keep eyes moist and refreshed, whereas allergy-specific drops can help control histamines in the eye.
9. Wear Glasses Instead of Contacts
   On days with heavy pollen, it may be a good idea to wear glasses instead of contacts. Glasses may soothe itchy, watery eyes.
10. Clean Floors with Wet Mop
    Sweeping can stir up dust, and even a dust mop can cause particles to swirl around in the air, causing you to sneeze.
11. Wash Sheets with Hot Water
    Washing sheets in hot water helps to safeguard your bed from Mold, mildew, or dust.
12. Remove Shoes Inside
    Shoes can carry all sorts of allergens. It is best to slip them off at the front door to keep those allergens where they belong: outside.

Conclusion

No matter the source of your allergies, it is always a good idea to keep things nice and clean. Thorough, frequent cleaning can create an environment where you can break from allergies. Eye-related allergies can be painful, but following these tips and tricks will hopefully bring some relief.

Spindel Eye Associates

If you’d like to know more about allergies or how they affect the eyes, it’s time to schedule with Spindel Eye Associates. With four locations in the New Hampshire area, we are available to see patients in Derry, Londonderry, Windham, and Raymond. For more information, visit our website or call (603) 217-2583.