Springtime Eye & Vision Tips | World Allergy Week

After many months of cold winter nights and overcast days, it’s nice to welcome spring. As you pack away your winter coats and open up the windows, the warm sunshine is likely a welcome sight. For many people though, the spring season can also mean eye allergies. April 7-13 is World Allergy Week, and it’s the perfect time to focus on preventing allergy symptoms and keeping your eyes healthy this spring. 

What Causes Spring Eye Allergies

​People that have allergies are sensitive to certain substances that are typically harmless. If you have allergies, your immune system reacts to a substance as if it were dangerous to your body. To combat the substance, your immune system goes into action and releases antibodies. One of the antibodies released is called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When IgE is released as part of an allergic reaction, it causes side effects that can lead to a variety of common allergy symptoms.
 
Typical eye allergy symptoms include:

• Redness
• Itching
• Swollen eyelids
• Tearing
• Irritation or burning
• Sensitivity to light

 
Eye allergy symptoms can occur at any time of the year, but they seem to be especially common during the spring season. During the spring, everything is blooming, and it’s common to spend more time outdoors than you did in the winter. Typical causes of spring eye allergies are the pollen from trees, plants, and grasses. For example, pollen from oak, willow, and birch trees are common springtime allergy culprits.
 

Relief for Spring Eye Allergies

​The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through springtime eye allergies necessarily. There are several things that might help keep symptoms at bay. Consider the following suggestions:
 
Reduce Triggers as Much as Possible
Once you know what is leading to your symptoms, try to limit your exposure. If tree pollen or grass is the culprit, it may be impossible to reduce exposure completely, but you can limit time outside when the pollen count is especially high. Check your local weather forecast to get the pollen count in your area. It’s also helpful to wear sunglasses to prevent pollen from getting in your eyes. Wash your face as soon as you come inside and shower at night to remove pollen. Also, try wearing a handkerchief over your nose and mouth when doing yard work.
 
Use Antihistamine Eye Drops
Antihistamine eyedrops block the antibody that leads to springtime eye allergy symptoms. Springtime allergies can last for several weeks. It’s important to tall with your doctor to determine if antihistamine eye drops are right for you, which ones you can use safely, particularly if you have contacts, and how long you can use antihistamine eye drops safely.
 
Try Artificial Tears or Saline
Artificial tears or saline will not prevent histamine and other antibodies from triggering allergy symptoms, but they can ease dryness and irritation. They can also be used to flush the pollen out of your eyes, which may reduce symptoms. Look for drops that do not contain preservatives. Drops that are preservative free can be used up to six times a day according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If you are a contact lens wearer, make sure you use appropriate eye drops.
 
Get an Air Purifier & Keep the Windows Shut
Whether allergens are entering your home through your open windows or on your clothes, pollen can make its way inside. Consider using an air purifier to keep the inside of your home allergen free.
 
Consider Wearing Eyeglasses For a Time Instead
Pollen can accumulate in your contact lenses, leading to itchy and irritated eyes. If you have spring eye allergies, consider avoiding contact lenses when you will be outdoors or your eyes are particularly irritated and wear your eyeglasses instead.
​

Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

Springtime allergies are not the only thing that can bother your eyes as the weather warms up. The spring months often mean spending more time outdoors. While all that sunshine on your face probably feels nice, the UV rays can damage your eyes.
 
Sun exposure can impact your eyes in both the short-term and long-term. Similar to how the rays from the sun can burn your skin, they can also burn your eyes. Photokeratitis is a condition that involves sunburn to the surface layer of the cornea.
 
Too much sun exposure can also have long-term effects on the eyes. Sun exposure increases your risk of certain eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. It is also a risk factor for skin cancer on the eyelids.
 
You don’t have to stay inside on those beautiful spring days, but do protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV protection. For added protection, wear a wide-brimmed hat to block out even more UV rays, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
 
We hope the tips above will help prevent or minimize any eye problems this spring. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call us, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
 
Enjoy the warm, sunny weather this spring!