Expert Offers Tips for Contact Lens Wearers With Allergies

If you wear contact lenses and suffer from seasonal allergies, you may be tempted to give up on your contacts. But there are a number of things you can do to decrease allergy symptoms and increase your contact lens comfort.

In a recent issue of Contact Lenses Today, Joel A. Silbert, OD, director of Cornea and Specialty Contact Lens Services at Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Salus University, Philadelphia, PA) offered several tips to help people with allergies stay in their contacts. Dr. Silbert recommends:

• Wear wraparound, close-fitting sunglasses to keep pollen and other allergens away from your eyes as much as possible.
• Wear daily disposable contacts. Because you discard these lenses after a single day of wear, you don’t have to worry about lens deposits building up on your contact lenses day after day.
• If you can’t wear disposable lenses, consider modifying your daily lens care and how you use contact lens solutions. If you use a “no-rub” multipurpose solution, for example, rub the lenses under a stream of the solution to more effectively clean the lenses. If you are sensitive to preservatives, consider switching to a hydrogen peroxide lens care system. 
• Avoid extended wear contacts. Wearing these lenses continually day after day can worsen your allergy symptoms.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, which also will make your symptoms worse. Use cold compresses to relieve itching instead.
• Lubricate your contacts frequently with rewetting drops. Using eye drops frequently will rinse away allergens and keep them from accumulating on your lenses. 
• Drive with your windows closed and the air conditioner (AC) on. Many newer automobiles have AC filters that help trap pollen and other allergens.
• Avoid early-in-the-day outdoor activities when pollen levels are highest, and (if possible) leave the lawn mowing to someone else.

Depending on the severity of your allergies, prescription medications also may be needed to reduce allergy symptoms and improve your contact lens comfort, adds Dr. Silbert. See your ophthalmologist or optometrist for details about the best medical options for your particular needs.

Source:  Tips for Allergy Season. Contact Lenses Today e-newsletter. May 14, 2009.

Tags: Allergies