Hay fever Tips You Need To Know

Just about everyone looks forward to spring. Everyone that is, except perhaps those affected by seasonal allergies. Because whether you wear contacts or not hay fever is no laughing matter. “Hay fever” is a general term used to describe a person’s exaggerated immune system response to pollen and other allergens released into the air every spring. The effects of hay fever can be debilitating with headaches, irritated eyes, sneezing, sniffling and a general sense of disorientation in severe cases. If you wear daily disposable contact lenses & contact lenses for astigmatism pollen can become attached to the surface or trapped behind them, exacerbating an already nasty situation. Below we’ll look at some steps you can take to reduce the negative effects of hay fever.

5 Ways you Can Reduce the Effects of Hay Fever This Year

Whether you wear contact lenses or not take the following tips to heart to reduce the effects of hay fever this spring.

Stay inside when the pollen count is at its worst - The amount of pollen floating about tends to ebb and flow during the day. It is typically highest during the early morning hours when many flowers open and the air tends to be still. It has another spike in the evening as the air cools and airborne materials tend to settle back down toward the ground, where you are. Limit your exposure during these periods by staying indoors with the windows closed. If you need to go out wear a protective dust mask. They’re cheap and widely available. They won’t stop everything but they will reduce the amount of pollen that gets through to you.
Wear wraparound sunglasses - If you’re outside and there’s a bit of a breeze kicking up any allergens in the air are being forced into your eyes where they can attach to your contacts and make your life miserable. Sunglasses, especially the wrap-around kind that cover most of the eye socket, can be very useful in preventing the wind from driving pollen into your eyes. Plus you’ll look tres stylish.
Wash your eyes out - Eyewash kits are widely available both through brick and mortar shops and online. They contain a clear plastic cup that fits over your eye and holds a solution that flushes your eyes out without further irritating them. The eyecup is not a new invention. It has been around for many decades. The difference today is that they’re rarely made of glass anymore and they come packaged with those special eye sensitive solutions.
Choose daily contacts over monthlies - One of the best ways to mitigate the negative effects of hay fever during the spring is to dispose of your contacts on a regular basis. The more often the better. That’s why it’s recommended that contact lens wearers switch to daily disposable lenses at this time of year if they don’t already use them. When you keep your contacts in for days at a time or return the same contacts to your eyes every day for weeks (monthlies) you run the risk of returning some of the pollen they picked up during the previous day (or days) to your already sore, irritated eyes. By limiting yourself to one pair of contacts per day you’re assured of starting fresh every morning.
Don’t forget the eye drops - During hay fever season it’s important that you invest in some moisturizing eye drops and have them with you at all times. They are a quick way of obtaining relief from the scourge of airborne allergens and they can be used as often as you like with no ill effects. Go ahead and get into the habit of using them even if your eyes aren’t feeling particularly irritated. By putting a few drops in every hour or so you’ll likely never reach the point where your eyes are bright red and begging to be itched. If you suffer from hay fever eye drops will be an enormous help whether you wear contact lenses or not.

Hay fever can ruin a beautiful spring day and cause you to question whether wearing silicone contact lenses is worth it. But by following the above tips you’ll greatly reduce the effects of hay fever and get back to enjoying the springtime rather than dreading it.