Spring officially began on March 20, ushering in a season of temperate weather and blooming flowers, including Texas’s stunningly beautiful bluebonnets. The season’s longer days allow plenty of opportunities for enjoying your favorite outdoor activities but do not forget to protect your eyes while having fun under the spring sun. Here are some ways, including scheduling an eye exam appointment with a Houston ophthalmologist, to protect your eye health during the springtime.
Manage Seasonal Allergies
The warmer weather has many people spending more time outdoors and dealing with seasonal allergies. The Houston Health Department reports substantial counts of both tree and grass pollen. According to the CDC, pollen exposure can trigger symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the lining of the eye that a Houston ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat – with itchy, red, watery eyes. Find relief from seasonal allergies by reducing exposure to allergens and keeping indoor air clean.
Protect Your Eyes
Longer sunshine-filled days provide the perfect excuse for enjoying your favorite springtime activities. But, whether you love hiking or swimming, there are some measures you should take to protect your eye health, including wearing sunglasses and swim goggles. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends choosing 100 percent UV protection shades when purchasing sunglasses. The academy also recommends wearing a wide-brimmed hat and splashing water in your eyes after swimming for additional protection from photokeratitis and swimmer’s eye.
Prevent Dry Eye
Dry eye, which occurs when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears or the tears produced don’t work correctly, causes discomfort for millions of Americans. It can cause your eyes to itch, sting, or become red and your vision to blur. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, spending time outdoors in dry heat or windy conditions can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. Therefore, they and the National Eye Institute recommend wearing wraparound sunglasses when you’re outside.
Visit a Houston Ophthalmologist
The importance of scheduling routine comprehensive eye exams with a Houston ophthalmologist cannot be overstated. During these appointments, the eye doctor will dilate your eyes by giving you some eye drops, allowing them to check for eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, flashes/floaters, glaucoma, and more. The exam includes visual acuity, visual field, eye muscle function, pupil response, and tonometry tests. These appointments are the best way to protect your vision as they allow eye doctors to diagnose and treat conditions early.
With the most advanced technologies and techniques, and more than 40 years of ophthalmology experience, the board-certified ophthalmologists at Eye Physicians of North Houston provide compassionate and comprehensive patient-centered eye care in Houston. Preventing, diagnosing, and treating eye disorders is done in a small clinical setting. As a result, patients can continually enjoy visiting and sharing their personal lives with our physicians and staff for many years to come.
Our conveniently located ophthalmology practice, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, diagnoses and treats eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma for thousands of patients each year. We invite you to schedule an eye examination and discuss laser eye surgery with one of our ophthalmologists in North Houston today at (281) 893-1760. At Eye Physicians of North Houston, we love what we do and are grateful for the opportunity to take care of your eyes!
Resources:
“Allergens and Pollen.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), August 21, 2020.
“Allergies and Hay Fever: Data for the U.S.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Center for Health Statistics, December 31, 2021.
Boyd, Kierstan. “5 Ways to Get Your Eyes Summer-Ready.” American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), April 28, 2017.
“Dry Eye.” National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Eye Institute, April 8, 2022.
“Get a Dilated Eye Exam.” National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Eye Institute, May 19, 2021.
“Pollen and Mold: Tuesday, April 19, 2022.” Houston Health Department.