Pollen, plants, and dust are all common in causing eye allergies. Along with that, the presence of pets and their fur or dander, humidity levels, and even physical contact with your eyes can result in eye allergies. Visit us at Benefield Eye Care in Gulfport, MS, so we can do an examination and provide you with treatment that can eliminate eye allergies. Of course, before stopping by, you can learn more about this condition below:
The Basics of an Allergy
The body’s immune system is designed to react to anything that is deemed as a threat. The immune system works to slow down the progress of any threatening invasions, capture them, and remove the contamination. This happens through a combination of white blood cells, hormones, body secretions such as mucus, and temperature changes that come along with inflammation. The eyes are commonly protected by increased tear production, mucus, inflammation, redness, and frequent blinking to clear the surface.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The first step in treating eye allergies is seeing our eye doctors for an eye exam. Our ophthalmologist will review the patient’s medical history, discuss any irritation, do a comprehensive review of the patient’s eyes to confirm there is not another causing the allergies, and confirm the patient’s reaction to common allergens. Of course, it is sometimes easier to identify allergies during certain seasons, such as spring and summer.
How to Avoid Eye Allergies
If you're suffering from a severe allergy reaction and have to wait for an appointment, avoid itching and scratching. When your hands and fingers come in contact with your eyes, they could cause damage and contamination. Instead, we recommend to use a cold compress with a clean wash towel to reduce inflammation and preservative-free eye drops to increase the lubrication in the eyes. Both will cool down the burning sensations and help clean the eyes of allergens that could be causing the reaction.
Visit us Today
Benefield Eye Care in Gulfport, MS, provides a range of eye care service to help keep your eyes healthy. Our team can narrow down which allergies are creating the most problems for our patients and provide effective treatment. Whether its dust, animal fur, or seasonal pollen from trees and flowers, let our team help and relieve any irritation and discomfort. You can contact us at (228) 328-0972 today to learn more about the services that we provide and to schedule an appointment.