8 Helpful Hayfever Tips

The met office have been recently issued warnings of 'very high' levels of pollen in Bromley Cross. So what is Hay fever, how does it affect our eyes and what can we do about it?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction which causes discomfort to sufferers at a time of year when we would usually want to spend more time outside in the open.

It is triggered by pollen in the air and causes inflammation and symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

The main symptoms that people experience is itchy eyes and this is due to an allergic reaction to the pollen. This reaction occurs in the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of our eyes, which when inflamed causes red, irritable, watery and itchy eyes.

What can you do about it?

Our initial instinct is to rub our eyes to try and achieve some sort of relief, but this ultimately can cause your eyes to itch even more.

There are several ways to manage the symptoms of hay fever and it is important to establish what works best for you.

Stay Indoors

When the pollen levels are high, sadly it is just better to stay Indoors. You should ensure that work surfaces are regularly cleaned and vacuumed to remove any pollen which has settled there and that your windows and doors are closed as well.

Wear Glasses

Wear glasses or sunglasses instead of contact lenses – this offers you better protection should you want to venture outside. Wrap around sunglasses will offer the best protection.

Antihistamine Eye Drops

Antihistamine drops will help to treat your hay fever and will offer instant relief and treat the inflamed area of your eyes. Be sure to check your contact lenses can have eye drops applied to them if you wear them before application.

Antihistamine Tablets

Antihistamine tablets offer similar benefits to the drops by blocking the production of histamine which is released by the allergic reaction.

Hayfever Wipes

Hayfever wipes are now available which remove the pollen from your face with gentle wiping.

Cool Water Eye-Bath

You can bathe your eyes Eyes In Cold Water, the easiest way to do this this is with a cold compress and provides instant relief.

Shower when Returning Home

Wash yourself when you get home and this will help because pollen can stick to your skin and hair. On high pollen days, showering and washing your hair when you arrive home and changing your clothing can help to reduce hay fever symptoms.

It is important to get your eyes examined regularly especially if you do not normally suffer from allergies such as hay fever. Bromley Cross Opticians are here to help so why not give us a call on 01204 771818 or use our handy online Booking Form.