Are you among the growing number of allergy sufferers who are experiencing eye problems at this time of the year? “Your eyes are an open pathway to any airborne particles in the environment and that makes your eyes particularly vulnerable,” says Dr. Brad Feldman, an ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital. Here are 5 tips he suggests for soothing itchy, irritated eyes.
- Put cool compresses over your closed eyes.
- Refrigerate artificial tears or drops first to make them cool before putting them in your eyes. Also use the preservative-free drops.
- Avoid using “get the red out” drops on a regular basis. They can create more redness over time through a rebound effect.
- Don’t use a tissue, cotton ball, swab, or anything else to fish mucous out of the eye. Instead, use drops or artificial tears to dissolve and flush your eyes.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen and act as a barrier against environmental triggers.
If your symptoms persist, see an ophthalmologist as eye infections (aka pink eye) also are prevalent.