#197: Soothe Your Dry Eyes this Fall Season

It's fall! The weather has that crispy quality again. We can get out our sweaters and enjoy being outdoors without sweating. 

Fall is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors and usually, there are lots of opportunities to do so. You may be going to football games or spending the day at a fall festival. You may have gotten lost in your local corn maze or spent the day picking apples.

Being outdoors is great this time of year, but as a dry eye sufferer, it has it's challenges. Let's explore the best ways to prepare yourself for spending time outdoors this fall.

Protect your Eyes from the Sun

The sun and wind can still irritate your already challenged eyes. It's important to protect your eyes from UV light. And, sense it can also be windy this time of year, be sure to find a sunglass with a wrap around design.

Having protection from the wind in the form of a heavier frame or a wrap around design can really protect your eyes. Blocking the wind and pollen will decrease any irritation.

If you want to choose the best sunglasses for your dry eyes, check out this blog. I did a comprehensive review of everything you need to take into account when choosing your next pair of shades. 

Avoid the Flames

Fall tends to be the time of year when your friends invite you over to sit around a fire outdoors. Here are some tips to help you protect your eyes when in this situation.

Limit the amount of time you spend in a smoky area.  Rinse your eyes out immediately with preservative-free artificial tears after being in near a fireplace.  And, try to turn your face away from smoke blowing directly into it.  I covered a ton of tips on fireplaces in this blog.

Treat the Allergies

The two hallmarks of allergy are watering and itching.  If your eye symptoms have shifted in this direction, it can make your dry eyes more miserable.  If you suspect an allergy, check out this blog on how to soothe your allergy eyes when you already have dry eyes.

Soothe your Sore Eyes

Relieve the eyes. Utilize an artificial tear immediately after exposure to smoke.

Relieve the irritation that the smoke has caused in your eyes using these strategies. The first is to use preservative-free artificial tears. Go ahead and as soon as you can after having contact with smoke, rinse your eyes using artificial tears.  If you don't already have a favorite artificial tear, check out the Guide to Artificial Tears here.

 CONCLUSION

The most important thing to remember is to have fun. Your dry eyes can come along for the fun too. If you remember to protect them while you are out and about, they will be ready to support you. 

You may need to carry along a couple of extra things to make sure you get through the day without the redness. In your bag, be sure to bring:

• Wrap around sun glasses
• Allergy eye drops
• Preservative-free artificial tears

Enjoy the fall!