If you’re one of the many whose eyes are affected by allergies, you know the challenge in attempting to keep them from flaring up. Carrying around eye drops, avoiding going outside all together, and allergy medicines are just a few of the ways that you can care for your itchy eyes, but there’s more to it than just those. So, we want to take an opportunity to help, if we can, by giving you some practical advice for your eyes.
- Allergens – If at all possible avoid allergens. Pollen, mold, dust and the like can flare up your eyes in an instant. Staying indoors is one way to combat allergens, but dust is inside and so are pets. Using your home’s HVAC system, instead of opening the windows, is another way to help your eyes. The air filters can remove many of the allergens that are in your home and can make their way in your home. Another tip is to make sure you wash your hands often, especially after touching a pet, to make sure you’re not contacting your eyes.
- Eye Drops & Medicine – Artificial tears can help temporarily by washing the allergens from your eyes, but there’s a lot of options when it comes to medicine. Decongestant eye drops, with or without antihistamines, oral antihistamines, antihistamines with mast-cell stabilizers, corticosteroids, and immunotherapy shots are just some of the options for medical treatment of itchy eyes. All have advantages and disadvantages. For example, overusing decongestant eye drops, past a couple of days, can actually make your eyes symptoms worse.
It is best to consult your eye doctor as to which medicine will work best for you. Not everyone responds the same and working with your eye doctor, they can help you determine the right formula to control your itchy eyes.
If you have questions about your eyes, don’t hesitate to contact Royal Oak Eye Care, we’re here to help!
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