Spring Time Allergies
- Posted on: Feb 22 2016
Springtime is right around the corner, and the pollen in the air might put you at risk for ocular allergies and discomfort. In people with allergies, pollen causes the blood vessels in the eye to swell. The body responds by creating histamine, which then causes the eyes to tear, sometimes uncontrollably.
Known as allergic conjunctivitis, pollen can make eyes red, swollen and extremely itchy.
What Can I Do to Reduce My Eyes’ Reaction to Pollen?
Several actions can be taken to reduce your reaction to pollen.
Stop scratching: When an area infected with histamine is scratched, it causes more histamine to be released, which in turn causes the area to become itchier. This is true for the eyes as well. Scratching the eyes can also cause other allergy symptoms, such as tearing and swelling, to worsen.
Use eye drops: Eye drops rinse the eyes of foreign objects, including pollen. Although some allergy sufferers still experience some symptoms after using eye drops, most agree that they are reduced and tolerable.
Take out contacts: Not only does pollen agitate contacts and make them uncomfortable, but it can also stick to the lenses and make the allergy symptoms last longer.
Use anti-histamines: Over the counter anti-histamines, such as Benadryl or Claritin, can help to reduce pollen allergy symptoms by counteracting the histamine production.
Furthermore, your ocular discomfort may not be caused by pollen alone. At New York Laser Vision, we offer allergy testing to find exactly what it irritating your eyes. This allows us to treat each patient’s symptoms with specificity toward the cause.
If you’re suffering from discomfort due to allergies, contact New York Laser Vision by calling 718-676-6464. Call us today to schedule your appointment.
Tagged with: allergens, allergies, allergy testing, discharge, itchy eyes, Ocular Allergies, pollen, red eyes, spring, swelling, tearing outside
Posted in: Brooklyn Eye Care, Common Eye Conditions, Ocular Allergies
