Allergy season makes everything more difficult, including combating dry eye. If your eyes are already itching, stinging, red, or puffy, adding pollen into the mix doesn’t help.
Luckily, there are steps that you can take to make sure that this allergy season doesn’t overwhelm you. Keep reading to learn some ways to help your dry eye during allergy season!
Keep Your Windows Closed
It’s a no-brainer that the best way to keep allergies at bay is to keep allergens out of your house. Sealing off major entry points into your house will keep your house clean and itch-free.
As it begins to get warmer, try to rely on an air conditioning unit to keep your living space livable. This in turn may make the air drier, which can also lead to problems with dry eye.
Find your balance by purchasing a humidifier! Humidifiers are great because they add much needed moisture back into the air.
Dust Frequently
As much as you may try to keep pollen out of your house, it will always find its way in. The best you can do is slow its progress and then clean whatever gets tracked in.
By dusting once or twice a week, you will not only be eliminating pollen, but also other irritants. These include dust, animal dander, and other particles that can irritate eyes.
Make sure to NOT use a dry duster like a standard feather duster. Instead, opt for a wet cloth or some kind of damp cleaning instrument.
This will collect all the allergens instead of kicking half of it into the air, making the problem worse. You can also install a air purifier into your home to remove ambient airborne irritants.
Keep an Eye on Pollen Count
We’ve made it out of winter (hopefully) and can’t wait for spring! If you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, keep an eye on the pollen count around you.
This is easier to do than you might realize! You can often check the pollen count of an area using a weather app or looking on local news websites.
If you know that an area you’ll be in has a high pollen count, try to go places strategically. Pollen counts are usually lowest in the early morning or around dusk.
Resort to Eye Drops
Eye drops are an effective way to get relief from allergy symptoms. They can even shield your eyes from more allergens! Using eye drops is better for your eyes than rubbing them and much more effective too.
You can get thicker, more viscous eye drops if you’re looking for longer lasting relief. If you use these, know that they can cause blurry vision for several minutes.
Eye drops that are more liquid provide immediate symptom relief, but wear off quickly. You’ll likely be using them throughout the day to continue getting relief from your dry eye.
Whatever works for you, make sure you are putting drops in safely, one at a time.
Tired of dealing with the debilitating symptoms of dry eye? Schedule an appointment with Colorado Eye Consultants in Evergreen or Littleton, CO today! We can help you find the relief you’ve been looking for this allergy season!
