Spring is in the air, and in the eyes

SASKATOON -- If you suffer with pollen allergies, your first indication that spring has officially arrived may be red, itchy, and watery eyes. A few pieces of practical advice, courtesy of the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists, may help relieve a number of those eye allergy symptoms.

Eye allergy, more properly known as allergic conjunctivitis, is generally triggered by pollens, dust mites, mold spores, animal dander and feathers, perfumes, and food sensitivities.

“An itchy, red and watery eye is your body's way of overreacting to an offending substance in your environment,” explains Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists’ (Past) President, Dr Dorothy Barrie. “Specialized cells from the immune system secrete chemicals like histamine that cause those allergic symptoms.”

In addition to itchiness, redness, and tearing, Dr Barrie points out that other symptoms can include swelling, burning or a sensation of fullness in the eyes or eyelids, an urge to rub the eyes, sensitivity to light and occasionally, blurred vision.

The most obvious and practical way to avoid the symptoms, she says, is simply to avoid the offending allergen whenever possible. She offers the following suggestions on behalf of the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists:

• Use air conditioning. You can ease the effects of seasonal pollens by closing your windows and turning on an air conditioner, which not only cools and dries the air but also cleans it.
• Apply cool compresses. Applied to your eyes, these can be soothing.
• Stay indoors. If possible, stay indoors when pollen counts are generally highest - from about 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Don't rub your eyes. Your hands can introduce allergens directly to your eyes, and scratching or rubbing the eyes will only make the symptoms worse.
• Rinse your eyes. A simple irrigation with normal saline solution or artificial tears (not tap water) can be helpful to dilute the allergen.

One of the most important pieces of advice about handling eye allergy symptoms, though, according to the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists, is to determine with certainty that allergies are, indeed, the root cause of the symptoms.

“Itchy, burning eyes may well be allergic eyes,” points out Dr Barrie, “but these symptoms can also be the result of other, more serious conditions, such as dry eyes, a viral infection, or a chronic inflammation of the eyelid. Only an eye health examination can determine this properly.”

The Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists represents all practicing optometrists throughout the province.