Spring is not always a time for celebration, it can sometimes be a time of sneezing, mucous and the dreaded itchy eyes. Visit the team at Hansen’s Optometrist in Parkes to discuss how they can assist you.
20% of Australians suffer with hayfever. Allergic conjunctivitis is the bane of many a hay fever sufferer so what is the best way to manage your itchy eyes?
1. Avoid your allergy triggers. If you know the types of plants, grasses or pollens that trigger your allergy symptoms then do everything within your power to avoid them. This might mean taking your daily walks in the evening or just before dawn when the pollen count is lower.
2. Keep allergens away. Regularly washing your face, hair and around your eyes, frequently changing your clothing and linen can help to remove the little allergen particles that accumulate over time.
3. Treat your itchy eyes with medication. There are a host of over the counter antihistamine eye drops to provide relief for the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Try several to find the one that works best for you. Avoid using the “red eye” drops as these do little more than temporarily hide the redness of your eyes without addressing the underlying cause. For persistent allergy, use a mast cell stabiliser eyedrop leading up to and during spring to act as a preventative. These are available as a combination drop alongside an antihistamine.
4. Treat any concurrent dry eye disease. Having dry eyes will exacerbate your allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and our tears act as a natural means of flushing allergens out of our eyes. Watch out with taking oral antihistamines as these can cause dry eyes.
If you suffer from itchy eyes, then book an appointment at Hansens Optometrists where we can formulate a plan specific to you. We can prescribe more effective eye drops then what is available over the counter and treat any dry eye or other eye problems that might be masquerading as allergy or making your itchy eyes worse.