How to Deal With Seasonal Allergies and Itchy, Puffy Eyes
Seasonal allergies, also known as “hay fever,” are allergies that pop up during certain times of the year, usually due to increased amounts of pollen in the air. Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, ear congestion, and watery and puffy eyes.
Wearing a pair of glasses while outdoors, eyedrops, and finding contact lens alternatives could help to prevent some of these symptoms.
Best sunglasses for hay fever
Having the right pair of glasses could result in hay fever relief. The best sunglasses that you can wear for hay fever treatment are wrap around glasses frames. This is because the wrap-around lens stops pollen from getting into the eyes from all angles.
Another pair of sunglasses that could help with your hay fever allergy are over-sized frames. Over-sized sunglasses cover more surface area, protecting your eyes from pollen and other particles in the air that cause seasonal allergies.
Finally, you might also want to consider titanium-frames if you suffer from allergies. Titanium is a hypo-allergenic metal that will be more delicate on people with sensitive skin. Learn more about the benefits of titanium frames here.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2021, approximately 81 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
What helps contact lens wearers with hay fever?
Sometimes, people may get anti-allergenic eye drops to help protect against seasonal allergies. However, many soft contact lenses don’t allow for this form of hay-fever treatment.
One way to fight this is to consider daily-disposable contact lenses. With daily-disposable lenses you are wearing a fresh pair every day, to ensure no pollen or other harmful substances have remained on your lenses.
Another solution for contact wearers who suffer from hay fever is to switch to prescription sunglasses while outdoors. This will ensure that you are still getting optimal vision while also protecting your eyes from pollen in the air. Read here for more information about prescription sunglasses.
When working or playing sports outdoors
If you have seasonal allergies and work outdoors, especially in the garden, you should consider wearing a pair of safety goggles. Safety goggles are one form of hay-fever treatment that protects your eyes at all angles with a tight seal. Click here to learn more about face shields and safety goggles.
When playing sports outdoors, you should always wear protective sports sunglasses or sports goggles. Sports sunglasses will protect your eyes while outdoors and can also be fit with your prescription to offer optimal vision.
If you suffer from hay fever, always make sure that your sunglasses have a proper UV coating, as sun rays can make symptoms of seasonal allergies worse.
Read here to learn about causes and treatments for dry eye and pink-eye.