Tips for Contact Lens Wearers During Hay Fever Season

Finally spring – the sun is shining, nature is awakening, temperatures are climbing. But for allergy sufferers, the beginning of the warm season doesn't just mean positive things: the flying pollen causes sneezing fits, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. With the itching, the temptation is great to rub your eyes, which is particularly problematic for contact lens wearers. This spreads bacteria, which intensifies the irritation. Even though pollen season presents a particular challenge for contact lens wearers, they don't have to give up their little visual aids, provided they follow some behavioral rules.

With the following tips, contact lens wearers get through hay fever season well:

• Switch to daily or rigid gas-permeable lenses: For allergy sufferers, daily lenses are recommended because the daily change avoids eye-irritating deposits. Some allergy sufferers even find that allergy symptoms decrease through the use of daily contact lenses. Rigid gas-permeable contact lenses offer the advantage that deposits adhere less well to their surface than to soft ones.
• Hygiene is essential: Those who wear monthly or yearly lenses should pay even more attention to hygiene than usual. The optician advises which care products are best suited during allergy season.
• Avoid rubbing eyes: Even if the itching is great – resist the temptation to rub your eyes. This irritates them additionally, especially if there may still be pollen or bacteria on your hands. There is also the risk that the lens will be damaged.
• Moisturizing agents: For relief from dry eyes, which are often caused by antihistamines, artificial tears provide moisture. Our tip: Perfect Aqua Plus for eye refreshment and rewetting.
• Caution with anti-allergic eye drops: Soft contact lenses can absorb ingredients from eye drops and soften. It's best to consult your ophthalmologist about which eye drops are suitable!
• Shield against pollen: To protect eyes from pollen, well-fitting sunglasses with large, closely fitting lenses fitted by an optician can help. Since allergens accumulate on the surface, the sunglasses should be thoroughly cleaned every evening.
• Limit wearing time: To spare allergy-plagued eyes, it's recommended to shorten the wearing time of contact lenses.
• Emergency equipment: If eyes are severely strained due to extreme pollen exposure, switching to glasses is the best solution. For this case, you should always have glasses in your current prescription and a lens container filled with contact lens solution at hand.
• Regular checkups: Since tear film and corneal surface can change with hay fever, originally well-fitted lenses may no longer sit optimally. Regular checkups with a contact lens specialist are therefore particularly important during allergy season.