Beautiful Spring Weather means Allergy Season for Patients
When people think “Optometry”, they typically think of just glasses and contacts. It is common to forget that optometrists also specialize in medical diagnosis & treatment of eye conditions/diseases. Certain symptoms are only discovered during the recommended annual exam. Recently my UNT patients come in with issues they have endured over the years not even knowing that the cause is due to allergies. Some symptoms like itchy eyes or slightly swollen eye lids can easily be treated or may be symptoms of more serious eye diseases. There are many different treatments available to alleviate and relieve your allergy issues. Why wait until your yearly eye examination to ask the questions? By that time, the allergy season may be over and you’ve suffered through those beautiful days outside.
Tips for Allergy Sufferers and Contact Lens Patients
Eye infections and eye irritations are unfortunately too common during this time of year. If you have ever caught a cold/flu or have had upper respiration issues from allergies it will often affect the eyes. I ask my patients coming in with a red/sore eye infection, “Have you had a cold or flu in the last month and a half?” Most of the time, the response is a yes. Contact lenses will increase the chances of eye infections and irritations during a time of compromised health. So it’s best as a contact lens wearer to use that back-up pair of glasses when you are sick and prevent eye infections from taking advantage of your health.
Have you ever noticed that you feel more tired when your eyes are itchy, swollen or even red after a good night’s sleep? For allergy sufferers here are a few tips to decrease exposure to allergens to help you wake up feeling more refreshed.
- Showering at night before you go to bed to wash away what you have collected in your hair throughout the day
- Wash your towels and sheets more often eliminate bacteria, pollen and othe
- Wash around your eyes with a soft cloth and warm soapy water before bed. If certain facial soaps burn your eyes, baby shampoo is a great alternative.
The combination of a clean sheets & good hygiene will help to get you through the allergy season and enjoy campus in the spring.