The sun is shining, flowers are finally in bloom and the temperature is on the rise: so far, so good. However, spring brings new challenges for your eyes, especially when you're a contact lens wearer. We’re bound to experience an increase in hay fever symptoms. But fear not, our in-house opticians have put together some handy spring eye care tips, so you can make the most of the year's prettiest season, with healthy and clear vision.
Spring eye care tips for contact lens wearers
1. Check the forecast
Keeping on top of the pollen forecast will help you work out what type of pollen particle affects you the most. Plus, you'll know to pack your hay fever eye drops with you and make sure you have enough daily contact lenses to see you through. While 90% of hay fever sufferers are affected by grass pollen, pollen season can be split into 3 phases:
Tree pollen (late March to mid-May)
Grass pollen (mid-May to July)
Weed pollen (end of June to September)
2. Spring-clean all pollen away
Hay fever season makes thorough cleaning a must to remove traces of pollen which might trigger hay fever symptoms. After being outside in high pollen levels, wash your clothes on a high temperature, as pollen can get trapped within clothing fibres. Also, regular hand washing helps avoid rubbing pollen into your eyes or nose by mistake. Adding a pack of Vision Direct Soap Sheets to your collection of key eye care items means that you can keep up your hand hygiene wherever you are.
A frequent clean of bedding, carpets and surfaces offers extra protection for your eyes and sinuses, keeping you safe from pollen particles which may be hidden in surfaces or material fibres. It might be a good idea to wear a protective mask while cleaning and pair it with your contact lenses to prevent any fogginess. But it's not only you that might be carrying pollen into your home: be sure to wash and brush your pets regularly after walks, to make sure they’re pollen-free and don't ruin your cuddles!
3. Switch to dailies
From jogging down the street to riding your bike along the canal and going for a walk through the park: we're all doing a lot more outdoor exercise at the moment. Contact lenses are the ideal accessory for any outdoor sports or activity, but this hay fever season, make sure you pack the essentials.
We always recommend wearing daily contact lenses, as these can easily be removed and disposed of without worrying about pollen build-ups. Disposable lenses like everclear ELITE have a super-convenient, fuss-free wearing pattern, allowing you to spend more time doing the things you love and enjoy effortless comfort.
Try everclear ELITE
Exclusive to Vision Direct, everclear ELITE lenses are super-comfy and convenient, with an ultra-hydrating formula to lock in moisture throughout your day. These daily disposable lenses, made with silicone hydrogel material, allow oxygen to pass through to your eyes, so they stay and look healthy for up to 12 hours. Wearers with dry eyes will benefit from the hydrophilic design, formulated to put an end to irritations and stop any hay fever itchiness. Plus, UV blocking offers an extra layer of defence against those harmful spring sun rays.
4. Hay fever and sensitive eyes
Eye drops are used to soothe irritated or dry eyes caused by contact lenses, but they’re as essential as your antihistamine tablets during hay fever season. Plus, you can buy eye drops online, from the comfort and safety of your home! Our opticians are often asked if you can still wear contact lenses when experiencing dry, itchy eyes from hay fever. The answer is yes! However, if they’re feeling uncomfortable our advice would be to soothe symptoms with eye drops. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes and are super-easy to transport with you everywhere. Why not get our Daily Contact Lens Essentials Kits to maintain your eye care routine on the go? It comes complete with a bottle of everclear Eye Drops, perfect for sensitive eyes, a portable Vision Direct Travel Case and a pack of our nifty soap sheets.
Anti-allergy eye drops are also great - but check whether they’re suitable to use with contact lenses. For some, you may need to apply them and wait a few minutes before putting in your lenses. If you have tried eye drops but your eyes are still irritating you, just take your lenses out and give your eyes a break.
5. Contact lenses and UV protection
We all love how easily we can get our daily dose of Vitamin D in the springtime, but it's important to keep your eyes protected. Contact lenses with UV protection filters are a great way to make sure your eyes stay healthy whenever you're outside. Our opticians recommend pairing UV contact lenses with good sunglasses. That way, your eyes stay healthy and you're free to enjoy spring to the fullest without any harm.