Regardless of the weather, eye allergies occur year round and seems as though the “allergy” season gets more intense each year. You know the signs: itchy, puffy eyes, runny nose and frequent sneezing. Dr. Paul Karpecki an optometrist and dry eye expert from KY (one of the states with the highest pollen counts). Dr. Karpecki gives lots of advice and tips. As you have well heard: Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Tips:

  • Know the pollen count: When the pollen levels are extra high do try to avoid outdoor activity. Check your local weather channels or www.weather.com – they will tell you what the pollen count is every day no matter where you live and especially if it is high, they will let you know to be extra careful. Avoid as best you can, windy days and daytime hours when flowering trees and plants have their petals wide open. When the count is extra high try to exercise, run errands, another day and or exercise indoors, if at all possible.
  • Wear pollen protection: Wrap around sunglasses can reduce the amount of pollen that sticks to your eyes. A headscarf and a hat can prevent pollen from clinging to your hair, and “try” to avoid bringing pollen indoors – where it can get on your pillows, bed sheets, and furniture.
  • Roll up your windows: When the weather is warm and it is sunny outside we of course feel like opening our windows to breath in fresh air. Remember, that clouds of plant pollen could be wafting into your home or car when you do this. Use the AC instead and be sure to change the filter regularly.
  • Wash your face and hands frequently: When you come in from outdoors – imagine that you have a thin film of pollen on your exposed skin. Be sure to remember to wash that layer off to reduce allergy symptoms. If you full body was exposed and you can, consider a full body shower.
  • Use daily disposable contact lenses: Pollen is especially good at sticking to moist surfaces such as your eyes, contact lenses, and your nose and throat tissues. Rinsing and cleaning your contact lenses frequently may reduce the amount of pollen stuck to them, the best way to be sure that you are removing all the pollen is to have a fresh pair of lenses each day.
  • Rinse your eyes often and do not rub your eyes: Artificial tears can help to wash away pollen from eye tissues and you can many saline-based solutions at a local pharmacy. Don’t rub your eyes, no matter how tempting when they feel itchy. This does unfortunately; only irritate your eyes further. What to do if you have already been exposed:
  • Take advantage of OTC medicines (over-the-counter): Anti-histamine medications come in topical and systemic forms. They can generally relieve symptoms for up to 12 hours with just one drop in each eye. If your nose, sinuses and/or throat are bothering you as well, try an oral anti-histamine and/or decongestant. Be sure to check for all possible side effects, especially drowsiness.
  • Use prescription medicines if needed: If OTC’s don’t work, there are advanced therapies, many of those medications involve steroids, and allergy shots, and you should check with your primary care physician to help determine which would be best for you.
  • Talk to your eye doctor: Many of us forget this step, even though recommended to see your eye doctor at least once a year.

Additional information on this and other eye related topics at the American Optometric Association.