Ways to Prevent Eye Irritation in Fall
Spring isn't the only time for allergies. You can experience allergies in autumn as well. Drier air coupled with irritants can result in everything from dry eyes to eye infections. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to protect your eyes all year long. Our optometrist at the Vision City of Lake Worth has a few tips when it comes to preventing eye irritation.
Treatment for Dry Eyes
Both indoor and outdoor air turns drier in autumn. Accordingly, your eyes naturally become drier, in which case you may also experience fatigue and itchiness. A humidifier will add moisture to the air and can be especially helpful when placed in your bedroom. Over-the-counter eye drops can alleviate your discomfort, as will a warm, wet compress placed over your eyes.
Avoid Irritants
As the temperature drops, pets begin shedding their summer coat and growing thicker fur. As such, you may notice a higher-than-usual amount of pet hair and dander in your home. This is one reason you should consider having your carpets professionally cleaned before winter. After shampooing, be sure to vacuum on a regular basis to prevent the amount of irritants from getting out of hand. Autumn and bonfires seemingly go hand in hand. Even so, remember that smoke is also an eye irritant. If you have a bonfire, limit your exposure as much as possible, or better yet, wear eye protection.
Wash Your Hands Often
Washing your hands does more than just prevent illness. Clean hands can also prevent damage to your eyes. Scrub your hands often, particularly after performing fall clean-up chores such as:
- Installing insulation
- Raking leaves
- Picking up yard debris
- Pressure washing
- Guard Against UV Rays
Since the sun isn't as bright, you may think it is safe to forego wearing sunglasses. However, eye protection is needed year-round to safeguard against UV damage. So don't put those sunglasses away just yet.
Contact Our Eye Doctor in Lake Worth, TX
Preventing eye irritation is just one part of keeping your eyes healthy all year round. Another way to ensure your eye health is by receiving an annual eye exam to monitor and maintain your vision. If it has been a while since your last eye exam, call our team at Vision City of Lake Worth today at (817) 546-9000, or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.