Stop Springtime Eye Allergies with These Simple Tricks

Red, itchy, watery eyes can make anyone miserable.  Spring is a great season to be outside. However, for allergy sufferers, this time of year can be agony.  And, when you add dry eyes to the mix, spring allergy symptoms worsen.  Here are some tips to keep you as happy as the sunshine this time of year: 

Know your Allergens 

In this case, knowing what you are allergic to can be game-changing for how you navigate this allergy season.  If you don’t know what you are allergic to, schedule an appointment for allergy testing.  The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology has a great tool to help you find an Allergist in your area: https://acaai.org/locate-an-allergist. 

Once you know your allergy triggers, it is easy to check the local pollen counts.  Check out: www.pollen.com and enter your zip code to find out what is in your air!  Utilize this tool before you head out each day to know how much time you will want to spend outdoors and whether or not you want to wear your contact lenses. 

Keep the Pollen out of your Eyes   

If pollen counts will be high today, opt for your glasses.  Pollen can attach to your contact lenses and irritate your eyes all day long.  If you must wear your contacts: try wearing wrap-around sunglasses to reduce the air getting to the eyes.  Or, wear a daily disposable contact lens that you can throw away at the end of the day. 

If you have been outdoors, rinse your eyes with preservative-free artificial tears once you come inside.  Placing a drop or two of tears in your eyes can help wash out the pollen in your tear film. 

Keep the Pollen out of your Home

Try to wear an outer layer, like a raincoat, if you are outdoors on a high pollen day.  When you come indoors, you can remove that outer layer and leave it in the garage, laundry, or mudroom.  Do not bring all that pollen into your home and let it get into your carpet and the fabric of your furniture.  Change your clothes in the laundry room if you need to. 

Keep the Pollen out of your Bed

Shower before you get into bed.  Rinse off all of the pollen and allergens stuck to your body and hair before you crawl into bed.  You may even find that washing your sheets more frequently this time of year can be beneficial. 

Use these simple tips to enjoy your Springtime again.  Many of us are tired of being indoors all winter, and we are ready to enjoy some sunshine.  Let us know in the comments below how you deal with Spring, and what is your best allergy trick.