While some of us can’t wait for Summer, swapping our Uggs for flip flops the minute we hit Easter, others dread the sunny season due to the misery, stuffy heads and streaming noses of hay fever season. This causes lots of problems to spec and contact lens wearers, and we see a high incidence of hay fever related issues from around May onwards, when the tree pollen bursts forth.
Hay fever is nothing to do with actual fever as of course it’s an allergy, affecting about 25% of the UK Population. It can begin in childhood but in most sufferers it starts from the teens onwards. Some people are affected more badly than others, and the degree of reaction can vary from year to year. Symptoms affect the upper respiratory tract, ranging through itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, coughing, sore throats, and wheezing, but unlike the common cold it will change with the pollen count and will affect the sufferer through several weeks while their particular pollen problem is air born.
Our biggest group of unhappy patients are contact lens wearers, who can’t bear to wear their lenses in sore, itchy eyes. The first thing to do is check that it’s an allergic reaction, not bacterial, so don’t confuse hay fever with Conjunctivitis! The latter can be cleared with drops from your chemist or GP. If your lenses are of a type that covers the Iris and fits closely you may even be better off wearing your lenses, as the irritation won’t reach the Cornea. Many patients do have to abandon their contacts through the summer and wear specs until their allergy has cleared. If you need eye drops make sure they are compatible with contact lens wear, your pharmacist will advise you if you’re not sure.
Sunglasses often help, with a large lens shielding the eye and keeping some pollen out. They are also soothing for sore eyes in cutting glare and making sensitive eyes more comfortable. Go for 100% UV protection, in a wrap around style with the darkest possible lenses.
Spec wearers will suffer if their noses are blocked and sinuses become inflamed. As the bridge of the nose bears the weight of glasses this can be very sensitive and uncomfortable. A lightweight frame will help you, and a plastic frame has a bridge that spreads the weight, fitting closer to the face to keep the pollen out.
A few simple measures will help to ease your discomfort while you wait for the anti-histamines to kick in, and at least you have an excuse to treat yourself to a new pair of specs!