As the weather heats up most people want to spend the time outside and enjoying the beautiful weather. Its summer time for all, and seasonal allergy season for some. If you’re one of the many Vancouverites that suffers from seasonal allergies, summertime is as much about sneezing and watery eyes as it is about beautiful weather and sandy beaches.
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) is a common symptom of eye allergies. SAC normally happens in the warm spring, summer, and fall months.
Allergies occur when an allergen comes in contact with the eyes. When the allergen comes into contact with the eyes, the cells in the eyes release histamine – along with other chemicals – that result in the itchiness and irritation allergy sufferers know and love.
Dealing With Seasonal Eye Allergies
Allergies can be annoying (to say the least). They can pop up out of nowhere and ruin a perfectly fine summer day.
Signs & Symptoms
Some triggers of allergies are outdoor allergens like pollens from grass, trees, or weeds. They also can come from indoor allergens like pet dander, dust mites, or mold. Unfortunately, SAC suffers also have dark circles that appear under their eyes known as allergic shiners. Runny nose, red swollen eyes, sneezing, and congestion are all frequent symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Treating Allergy Symptoms
The best way to stop allergies is to discontinue contact with whatever allergen is causing your reaction. This may be extremely difficult if you lead a very active life and are constantly outdoors.
We recommend litigiously monitoring air quality indexes and avoiding the outdoors when known allergens at in high supply. If you must be outdoors, we recommend protecting your eyes with sunglasses or protective eyewear.
We can provide prescription eye drops that will help reduce the symptoms and temporarily “fix” the problems. There are also topical and oral medications available to assist with allergies, but their effects are temporary.
Don’t Delay, Visit Our Friendly Optometrist… Today!
The easiest way to see if you are suffering from allergies is to pay us a visit. We will work with you to pin-point which allergen is causing your reactor. With this diagnosis, we can create a plan to alleviate your symptoms and mitigate future reactions.
