A guide to hay fever
As spring arrives and the hay fever season kicks in, the College of Optometrists have developed an easy-to-use infographic to help sufferers identify when they are most at risk of developing symptoms of hay fever and take appropriate medication to minimise their allergy.
The College is urging those with hay fever to identify which pollen triggers their hay fever and then consult the infographic to predict the timeframe in which they are likely to be most sensitive. Doing so will enable them to take the most appropriate medication at an earlier stage. We have added this information to our patient-facing website Look after your eyes and we are directing patients to members to advise on the best medications to alleviate the most common effects of hay fever associated with the eyes.
They are also offering patients with hay fever the following advice this spring and summer:
- Avoid pollen as much as possible by closing windows and keeping surfaces clear with a damp duster. Wear sunglasses which can help to protect your eyes from dust and pollen.
- Visit your optometrist or pharmacist for advice and to get medicated eye drops to help alleviate the itching and swelling.
- If you wear contact lenses, remember to check if you can use the drops while your lenses are in. When the pollen count is very high it can be more comfortable to wear your spectacles rather than your contact lenses. You may feel more comfortable by avoiding wearing contact lenses in hot, dry or dusty conditions or when you are gardening, particularly when mowing the lawn, as grass particles and pollen can become stuck behind the lens and cause discomfort.
- If your eyes become dry, seek professional advice from your optometrist, pharmacist or GP. They may prescribe lubricating eye drops to ease the dryness.
Don't forget here at Molsom & Associates we have our Maui Jim Sunglasses range. Sunglasses are essential to maintain healthy eyes in the sun and everyone should own a pair to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays. The quality and fit of the sunglass are very important to provide maximum protection so come along and see us and try Maui Jim sunglasses for yourself!
http://uk.mauijim.com/ for the range or pop in and see us at the practice.