Eye Allergies? Treatments And Recommendations To Take Care Of Your Eyesight

With the arrival of the long-awaited good spring weather, many people also experience eye allergies, due to the presence in the environment of numerous substances, called allergens, capable of causing ocular alterations, sometimes of considerable intensity.

Eye allergy generally affects the conjunctiva, which is why it is known as allergic conjunctivitis or atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and typically increases in its seasonal form with the appearance of spring allergens such as pollen and mold spores, explains the Ophthalmology Service of the Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, HURJC, in Madrid (Spain).

Ophthalmologists at this hospital, which is run by the private group Quirónsalud, add that “generally, this type of conjunctivitis appears associated with other types of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthmatic bronchitis and the appearance of eczema.”

Following ocular exposure to an allergen, the person’s immune system detects it and triggers an inflammatory response in the body, causing a series of substances to be released, which are responsible for the appearance of the signs of allergic conjunctivitis, according to the HURJC.

Some of the most common allergens that trigger this eye allergy are pollen, dust mites, hair and skin cells from the shedding of domestic animals, and some fungi (mold), they point out.

Allergic conjunctivitis causes dry eyes, red eyes, tearing, intense itching in the eyes (the most common and characteristic allergic manifestation), stinging, slight swelling of the eyelids, burning sensation, viscous secretions, and temporary blurred vision, add General Óptica (GO), which receives numerous consultations about this disorder every spring.

TEN TIPS TO RELIEVE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

“We know that it is difficult to avoid eye allergies, but by moisturizing your eyes regularly and following a set of hygiene tips, you can reduce the discomfort,” says Viviana Outeda Dominguez, a contact lens expert at this chain with more than 300 optician’s centers spread across Spain and Portugal.

Expose yourself to pollen as little as possible.

Parks and places with a greater number of plants are the areas with the highest concentration of pollen and the ones we should therefore avoid, trying, on the other hand, to leave the house to carry out our daily activities and walks in the afternoon, when the level of pollen in the air drops, according to GO.

Eye allergies? Treatments and recommendations to take care of your eyesight — Representative image of allergic symptoms. (Photo Prensa Libre: General Óptica)

Protect yourself when you go outside.

To protect our eyesight in outdoor spaces, it is advisable to wear sunglasses, the largest possible, and preferably offering side protection, to prevent allergens from entering the eyes from the sides. It is also recommended to wear masks on days when there is more pollination, according to GO.

Take a shower when you get home.

On days with a higher concentration of pollen in the air, it is advisable to take a shower when you get home to remove any plant particles that may have accumulated on your body and hair, as well as wash the clothes you have worn outside, General Óptica advises.

Dry clothes inside.

Once clothes have been washed, it is preferable to hang them to dry inside the house, rather than drying them outside, where they could become filled with allergenic pollen particles, experts add.

Keep the windows closed.

“To ensure that pollen affects us as little as possible, it is important to keep the windows of the house closed to prevent it from entering, especially when the wind blows. Ten minutes are enough to ventilate the house, opening the windows before dawn, at the end of the afternoon, and early in the evening, when the pollen concentration is lower,” according to GO.

Clean the house to the max.

Another preventive measure for eye allergies, aimed at keeping pollen away, consists of carrying out a thorough household cleaning as frequently as possible, using damp cloths that can better trap pollen grains, the same source points out.

Use air filters.

GO suggests installing special systems to filter pollen in air conditioning equipment, as well as using air purifying machines in closed spaces, to keep the space free of allergens as much as possible.

Avoid rubbing your eyes.

Touching or rubbing your eyes, especially if you already have allergy symptoms, will only irritate them more and increase the chances of contracting an infection, explains GO, which also stresses the need to keep contact lenses properly clean if you use these optical elements.

Relieve eye itching.

Cold compresses can be used to soothe itchy, swollen eyes. Artificial tears can also be applied to the surface of the eye to keep it moist and dry, cleanse it of allergens, and relieve irritation, according to GO.

Go to a professional.

Some treatments can alleviate the symptoms of eye allergies, so people affected by this disorder should consult an allergist about which method might be most suitable for their case, depending on the type and intensity of their allergic condition, conclude the experts at General Optica.