Talking to Patients About How to Deal with Eye Allergies

Spring is just around the corner and for many of us, it means looking forward to longer hours of daylight and warmer weather. But it can also come with eye symptoms due to seasonal allergies. Eye allergies can range from a nuisance to really interfering with patients’ day-to-day activities. Here’s how to educate your patient on dealing with eye allergies, whether it’s due to seasonal allergies or irritants that are there year-round. 

Talk About the Root Cause

Most of the time, eye allergies are caused by the same irritants as seasonal allergies that result in a stuffy nose. And those red, itchy, and watery eyes typically appear at specific times of the year, such as spring and summer, when plants begin to wake up and spread pollen. But there can also be other causes for eye allergies.

Speak with patients about the two root causes of allergies to help them determine the allergens and whether they need further testing to tailor their treatments. Pollen is the cause of seasonal eye allergies, while perennial allergies are caused by irritants such as dust and animal dander. 

Talk About How to Minimize Symptoms

Medicine and over-the-counter treatments aren’t the only way to reduce symptoms. Don’t forget to speak to the changes patients can make in their lives to help minimize contact with allergens and their resulting symptoms.

Pollen Allergies: Showering before bed to wash away allergens, frequently changing air filters in their HVAC system when pollen levels are elevated. 

Perennial Allergies: Minimizing carpet in the home where allergens can collect, using allergy-reducing bed covers, using HEPA-filtered vacuums and HVAC systems. 

Talk About Treatment

If making those changes isn’t enough, or your patient has severe allergy symptoms, move on to talking about treatment options. Each patient will be a little different, so work with your patient to find a solution that’s right for them. This could be prescriptions, prescription alternatives, artificial tears, topical steroids (for those prone to pink eye), opting for glasses instead of contacts, or using daily disposable contacts to reduce the buildup of allergens and debris on the lens surface. 

Reminders on the Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Finally, don’t forget to stress to your patients the importance that regular eye exams play in dealing with eye allergies. Remind them that annual eye examinations are an important part of preventative care. Plus, treatment of eye allergies is important to overall eye health. 

Key Takeaways

Patients may just brush off eye allergy symptoms, especially if they think their symptoms are minor or will just go away when the pollen does. But treating eye allergies is important for their overall eye health. Plus, reducing symptoms can help improve your patients’ overall quality of life and help them enjoy living with cats or smelling the roses!