Ophthalmologist Stresses Adopting Preventive Measures To Avoid Eye Allergies

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Apr, 2024) Leading ophthalmologist at Al-Shifa Trust, Dr. Tayyab Afghani on Monday said that pollen allergy effects could be avoided through preventive measures.

Talking to media, he said that the springtime brings an extremely high pollen count, which can cause burning and redness in the eyes, adding eye allergies can cause watery and puffy eyes, but the same therapies and self-care practices that relieve the symptoms of slurred allergies also work for eye allergies.

In addition to sneezing and a stuffy runny nose, the symptoms can include red eyes, irritation, itching, tearing or runny eyes, swollen eyelids, soreness, burning, or pain, he added.

Dr. Tayyab said that optical allergies result from the body overreacting to an allergen like any other allergy.

“The immune system produces antibodies that release histamine and other chemicals from the eyes, causing red, watery eyes and irritation,” he added.

Typically, seasonal allergies occur in early spring during the summer, he said and added that allergens in the atmosphere such as spores from mold and pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds, were known as triggers.

He claimed that aside from causing momentary blurriness, ocular allergies, commonly known as allergic conjunctivitis or eye allergies do not significantly endanger vision.

In many cases, symptoms appear as soon as the allergen comes into contact with the eyes.

Dr. Tayyab Afghani said the first step was to avoid triggers by staying inside during high pollen count periods which were often mid-morning and early evening.

In order to protect their eyes from pollen people should drive with closed windows and wear sunglasses or eyeglasses, he suggested.

He advised the eye patients to use eye drops provisionally to treat severe chronic ocular allergies while prolonged use of these drops can lead to negative effects.