Spring has officially begun! Today marks the first day of the season with the spring equinox, and like many of you, we’re looking forward to the activities that warmer weather brings. However, spring also brings allergies and other seasonal eye concerns, so we’re sharing 9 tips for maintaining eye comfort all season long.

Wash Your Hands Regularly.

While we may technically be out of “cold and flu” season, it’s still critical to keep your hands clean. This helps to reduce the spread of germs and keep your eyes free of pollen, dust, and other irritants that may be transmitted from your hands. It’s especially important to wash your hands before inserting and removing contact lenses.

Wear Quality Sunglasses.

As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, overexposure to the sun can have dangerous and lasting effects on your eyes. It’s recommended to wear quality sunglasses with lenses that offer 100% ultraviolet (UV) A and B protection. Additionally, it’s helpful to invest in a pair of polarized lenses. These types of lenses can mitigate glare and enhance contrast and other details, making viewing the world around you safe and enjoyable.

Do Some Spring Cleaning.

Irritants like pollen, mold, and dust can build up in areas around your home during springtime, especially if you like to have your windows open. Cleaning, vacuuming, and changing your sheets regularly can help reduce the amounts of these irritants and keep your eyes comfortable.

Stay Hydrated.

Another tip we’ve shared before, drinking the recommended amount of water each and every day is essential to eye and overall health. Staying hydrated helps ensure your eyes produce enough tears to keep them comfortable while maintaining the ability to wash away irritants when necessary.

Follow the 20-20-20 Rule for Screen Time.

The 20-20-20 rule is another tip we’ve shared in the past in relation to screen time. Screen use has been known to cause eye strain and fatigue as well as lead to eye dryness due to reduced blinking. The 20-20-20 rule encourages frequent breaks to help reduce and relieve these symptoms and is as follows: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Avoid Allergens.

While this may seem difficult with a strong desire to spend more time in increasingly nice weather, it’s important to keep track of pollen counts throughout the weeks. Blooming spring flora can increase the pollen count outside, so limiting outdoor time while counts are exceptionally high can help minimize their impact on your eyes.

Consider Daily Disposable Contacts.

Wearing contact lenses that are disposed of after each use can greatly reduce the buildup of irritants on the lenses and help you avoid allergy-related eye symptoms. Daily disposables aren’t for everyone, so routinely cleaning your contacts after each day of wear is another option for those who want to remain on a monthly (or longer) replacement cadence.

The recommended steps for cleaning contact lenses are as follows:

Keep Relief On Hand.

We know it’s nearly impossible to avoid all irritants at all times. Therefore, we recommend keeping some form of relief on hand. This relief can look like: 

Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam.

Another tip you’ve seen from us before! Getting and keeping routine eye exams can help identify any issues with your eyes before they interfere with your daily life. Your eye doctor can also check for signs of spring allergies and offer timely advice and therapies.

Using these tips, you can truly enjoy your spring season!