Hay fever presents another layer of angst for contact lens wearers - even through to late summer and autumn - with weed pollen active and mould spores on the rise as damp conditions take hold. Itchy, red, watery eyes aren’t the best conditions for wearing contact lenses.
If pollen counts are particularly high, pollen can actually build up on contact lenses, adding to the already troublesome hay fever symptoms. Eye dryness from hay fever can make wearing contact lenses feel sharp and uncomfortable and may leave wearers reaching for eye drops but not all eye drops are suitable.
Contact lens wearers need to be extra vigilant when it comes to hay fever symptoms. For example, hay fever typically affects both eyes, so if they notice only one eye is experiencing symptoms, this could be due to an infection such as a stye, and they may need to seek advice or use other treatment methods.
Or if the eyes are sore and red, this can also indicate an eye infection such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis, and they need to take the right steps and act quickly.
Self-Care Advice for Contact Lens
Wearers Switch to Dailies: To help avoid the buildup of pollen on contact lenses, switch to dailies
Give contact lenses a rest: On high pollen days, or if your eyes are feeling itchy, avoid wearing contact lenses and opt for your glasses to give your eyes a rest
Keep windows closed: Even when indoors, eyes can be affected by pollen so it’s best to keep windows closed, especially first thing in the morning and later in the evening when pollen is awakening and settling
Don't rub: It can be hard to resist the temptation to rub your eyes when they’re feeling itchy or gritty, but this can make things worse as your hands carry germs and bacteria.
Treat infections quickly: If you develop an eye infection, treat it immediately. If you have a minor eye health problem, the pharmacy should be your first port of call. The pharmacist can use their clinical expertise and practical knowledge to provide advice and treatment recommendations such as GoldenEye® Eye Drops, which contain propamidine isetionate that work by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying, and as a result, controlling the numbers of bacteria causing an infection.
Tackling Eye Infections: With hay fever, itchy, red eyes are the most notable symptom, and it is important not to overlook this, but the need to treat the symptom to provide relief, and to stop it from developing into anything more serious is vital.
If eye infections do develop, there’s one eye care product range that you will find in your local pharmacy is GoldenEye®. GoldenEye® Eye Drops contain propamidine isethionate, which works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying, which controls the number of bacteria causing an infection. Always read the label.
GoldenEye® Antibiotic Eye Ointment contains the antibiotic chloramphenicol. This product is intended for acute bacterial conjunctivitis in adults and children aged two years and over. It should be reserved for acute infection to limit the spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Always read the label.
Optician, Francesca Marchetti is an advisor to GoldenEye®
