Red, Itchy Eyes? You might have eye allergies!

With the start of daylight savings time and the onset of warm weather, most of us are greatly anticipating the arrival of spring. For allergy sufferers, they may not be welcoming the inevitable suffering that accompanies the blooming flowers and warm days - sneezing, sinus congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes. At Sussex Eye Center, we see a lot of patients suffering with ocular allergies this time of year.  Getting ahead of allergy season and taking a proactive approach to preventing allergies now can help you keep a clear head in the weeks to come.

Allergies And The Eye

In general, allergies are the body's response to something foreign. It varies for each person, but pollen, dust, dirt, dander, and smoke are common allergens we encounter on a daily basis. Exposure to these allergens causes a reaction of the body’s immune system.  Mast cells in the eye to release chemicals, such as histamine, into the body to help fight the offender. Unfortunately, these symptoms usually affect the surface of our eyes and can cause the following symptoms:

Redness, Swelling, Itching, Tearing, Contact Lens Irritation

An eye doctor can diagnose ocular allergies and recommend a variety of treatments to help improve symptoms.

Allergy Treatment- What can you do?

The best way to eliminate allergies is to limit exposure to the allergen. Since most allergies are very difficult to avoid, there are different medications and modifications we can make in order to help reduce this allergic response.

Some environmental modifications include the use of air filters or air purifiers and air conditioners. Thorough cleaning to reduce dust, dander, and mold on a regular basis and attempting to limit pets to certain areas of the home (out of the living rooms and bedrooms) may also help reduce exposure to allergens. Additionally, remember to wash your hands and rinse your face after being outdoors to help rinse off pollen.

Non-medicinal treatments that can help reduce eye allergies include the use of artificial tears and cool compresses. These can help soothe the eyes and reduce inflammation. It is also important to avoid rubbing the eyes, as this causes the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation and will worsen allergies.

It is common for patients to report more irritation from their contact lenses during allergy season. Oral decongestants dry out the eyes as a side effect and can cause contact lenses to be more irritating. Allergens can also build up on the contact lens, which can make allergies worse. Patients who wear contact lenses sometimes experience relief by switching contact lens materials or by switching to a daily lens. Daily contact lenses  offer a fresh lens each day and reduce exposure to allergens on the lens. They can come in prescriptions for spherical eyes, those with astigmatism, and even bifocal/multifocal needs!

If you are experiencing redness or eye irritation, set up an appointment today to see how our optometrists at Sussex Eye Center  can help you reduce suffering this allergy season!