Approximately 25.7% of adults have a seasonal allergy. Whether grass pollen in the spring and summer or ragweed in the fall, South Carolina is full of seasonal allergens that can cause congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and more.
With a couple of prevention and treatment tips, your itchy eyes don’t need to get in the way of a pleasant fall picnic at Memorial Park.
Itchy Eye Prevention
Avoiding allergy triggers is the best way to prevent bothersome, itchy eyes from blurring your vision and adversely affecting your day. Once you have established which allergens trigger your symptoms through a skin test or blood draw, you can begin to practice avoidance. A few ways you can limit your allergen contact include:
- Wear sunglasses. Although you may not be able to prevent all pollen, wearing sunglasses or glasses when you’re outside can help prevent large quantities from getting in your eyes.
- Watch allergen counts. Most cities track the levels of common allergens like pollen and mold. Checking the allergen counts will help you plan your outdoor activities for low-level days.
- Close your windows. Minimizing allergens in your home is just as important as outdoors. Remember to close your windows on high allergen-count days to prevent unnecessary allergens from entering the home.
- Wash your pets. Pet dander is an extremely common allergy. Bathing your pets weekly will help prevent dander shedding from irritating your eyes.
Itchy Eye Treatment
Allergens cannot always be avoided. When that is the case, knowing which treatments best alleviate your symptoms can help prevent them from becoming severe. A couple of treatment options you may want to consider include but are not limited to:
- Cold compress. Cold compresses may work to relieve minor eye itching. Place a cold compress or rag over the eyes for temporary relief.
- Eyedrops. Lubricating eye drops can relieve some itchiness by providing moisture to dry or irritated eyes. Try chilling eye drops for a little extra relief.
- Allergy-relief eyedrops. Physician-prescribed or over-the-counter eye drops can ease itchy eye symptoms. Check with your provider before using over-the-counter eye drops for more than 72 hours.
- Allergy immunotherapy. While not providing immediate relief for itchy eyes, allergy immunotherapy can reduce your allergic reactions over time, resulting in less severe symptoms.
For more information on finding allergy relief, contact Carolina Pines ENT today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.