Fall will be here before you know it - it’s just around the corner. With crisp air replacing summer heat, fall weather can be glorious, but will you enjoy it? Fall allergies can mar a beautiful season. If your allergies leave you with red, watery, itchy eyes, it’s time to make a change.
Our board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrist with Wolchok Eye Associates, PA, explain why allergies cause red eyes and discuss three ways to get a jump on your fall allergies.
When you’re allergic to a substance, your immune system mistakes it for a harmful invader. Your body then produces histamine, a compound that causes inflammation — in this case, in the tissue that lines your eyelids and the white part of your eye, the sclera. In turn, the blood vessels in your eyes enlarge and begin to leak. Now you have red, itchy eyes.
The following strategies can help prevent unsightly red eyes caused by seasonal allergies:
When you come in from gardening, hiking, or another outside activity, put the clothes you’re wearing into the laundry basket. Many types of pollen have barbs that easily stick to insects — and also to your clothes. It can even stick to relatively smooth material such as cotton. Take a shower to remove microscopic bits of pollen that cling to hair on your body.
At least indoors, you can control the environment to a degree. Invest in high-quality HVAC filters that trap pollen. Use an air purifier in your bedroom to help ensure a better night’s sleep.
Help keep pollen out of your eyes by wearing wraparound sunglasses when outdoors. Ensure they filter out 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
If you wear contacts, you’ll likely feel more relief if you switch to glasses, especially during the high pollen season. Give it a try to see if wearing glasses makes a significant difference in how your eyes feel.
If you always have fall allergies, start over-the-counter allergy medication a few weeks before the usual onset of symptoms. Use artificial tears to help remove pollen and avoid red eyes. If over-the-counter medication doesn’t work, your eye specialist can recommend prescription eye drops.
You don’t have to live with severe allergy symptoms. If your allergies aren’t controlled with over-the-counter medication and eye drops, consult an allergist and consider allergy testing. If the culprit is ragweed, mold spores, dust mites, or another allergen, you can benefit from allergy shots that help restore your quality of life.
Call Wolchok Eye Associates, PA, to ensure your eye health.
