It’s time to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Many residents of the Valley take advantage of the moderate temperatures to get outdoors. But with there’s one caveat to the warming up…spring allergies! Yes, one would think that living in the desert you would be spared from most environmental-type allergens. Unfortunately, that is just not the case in the Phoenix area. If you are sensitive to pollen, dust or ragweed, you might already be experiencing allergy symptoms, including in your eyes. Here are a few things you can do to protect your eyes this allergy season and get some much needed relief.
Try Limiting Your Exposure to Allergens
Do you know what your allergy triggers are? One of the best ways to protect your eyes from them is by avoiding them. If you are allergic to tree pollen, grass pollen, ragweed pollen or dust, it is very easy to find out when these allergens are at their worst. Most weather phone apps can give you an allergy outlook for up to a week to give you advance warning of what the expected allergy indices are and allow you to adjust your outdoor activities accordingly.
Swap Your Contacts for Your Eyeglasses
During allergy season, it is better to wear your eyeglasses instead of your contacts. Allergens can build up on your contacts and make your eye allergy symptoms worse. If you must wear contacts, speak to your eye doctor about switching to daily disposables.
Prevent or Get Relief from Eye Allergies
It may be possible to prevent eye allergy symptoms by taking over-the-counter oral allergy medications or using eye drops. Antihistamines and/or decongestants can help get relief from itchy, red or watering eyes. If OTC medications do not work, your doctor can prescribe you stronger medications to lessen the severity of your symptoms or to treat allergic conjunctivitis.
If you cannot get relief from your eye allergies, it’s time to do something about them. Schedule an appointment with one of Valley Eyecare Center’s doctors by calling (602) 955-2700
