It’s that time of year! Time for itchy, watery eyes, non-stop sneezing and the constant sound of sniffles. That’s right: It’s allergy season! But don’t let this common complaint disrupt your patients’ vision. Here’s how you can help folks who come into the optometrist’s office with seasonal eye allergies.

Check yourself

The first step towards reducing seasonal eye allergy misery is to avoid allergens whenever possible. Encourage your patients to check the day’s pollen count before heading outside. They may want to spend more time indoors that day if the pollen is predicted to be high.

Made in the shade

Encourage your patients to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from airborne allergens (and harmful UV rays!). Some may find wraparound style sunglasses particularly helpful.

Start crying

Artificial tears can help wash allergens from your patients’ eyes. Bear in mind that different brands may work better for different patients.

Grab those glasses

Because contact lenses can be allergen-magnets, patients may want to switch to wearing eyeglasses during the spring. If not, single-use contact may prevent allergen build up.

Air it out

To avoid build-up of allergens in the air, suggest that patients replace air-conditioning filters frequently.