We all love spring. The days are warmer, gardens are waking up, there’s the wonderful aroma of Jasmine… but this also brings the irritation of pollen floating around in the air.
If your eyes become itchy, red, watery or irritated when the seasons change, you may be experiencing seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, commonly triggered by airborne allergens such as grass, weeds, flowers and tree pollen. And you’re certainly not alone. Research has found that around 40% of people have reported experiencing at least one ocular symptom related to allergy in the previous 12 months.
Why do allergies affect your eyes?
When pollen makes contact with the surface of your eyes, your immune system may react by releasing inflammatory chemicals such as histamine. The result can be the familiar combination of itching, redness, watering and swollen eyelids.
And here’s one important clue: itching is a classic symptom of eye allergies. If both eyes are intensely itchy, particularly alongside sneezing or a runny nose, allergies may be the culprit.
What about contact lenses and allergies?
Spring allergies and contact lenses can be a rather uncomfortable combination.
Pollen and other allergens can become trapped around the eye, while contact-lens wear itself can contribute to irritation. Contact lens wearers can also develop giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), an inflammatory condition associated with factors such as prolonged lens wear, poor lens hygiene, infrequent lens replacement and some types of lens or solution irritation.
So, if your normally comfortable lenses suddenly feel scratchy, irritating or difficult to wear, don’t simply push through it. Go have your eyes checked.
A few spring rules for happier eyes
Don’t rub your eyes.
It may feel satisfying for approximately three seconds, but rubbing can further irritate already inflamed eyes. Also, continuous, vigorous rubbing can cause an eye condition called Keratoconus. Click here to read more about it.
Wash your hands before handling your lenses.
Clean hands are one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of contact-lens-related infections.
Keep contact lenses away from water.
Remove them before swimming or showering. Water can carry microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections.
Never sleep in your lenses unless your eye-care professional has specifically advised you to do so.
Sleeping in lenses can increase the risk of serious eye infections.
Give irritated eyes a break.
If your eyes are red or uncomfortable, remove your contact lenses and switch to your glasses until your eyes settle or you have spoken to your eye-care professional.
And if you’re tired of contact lenses…
Spring can also be a good time to think about your options.
If you’re finding yourself increasingly frustrated by contact lenses or simply wondering whether you could enjoy clear vision without relying on glasses or contacts, laser vision correction may be worth exploring.
The first step is finding out whether you’re a suitable candidate.
Book a refractive screening at JHB Eye Laser Centre and discover whether laser vision correction could be right for you. Click here to book.
After all, spring is all about seeing the world in all its beautiful glory.