Eye Allergies (in Florida)

What allergies occur most often in Florida?

The temperate climate that rarely approaches freezing creates an environment where greenery thrives, producing triggers that can cause eye allergies. An interactive map allows you to search for allergy levels and pollen count in selected Florida cities.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Temperate climate conditions help make allergic conjunctivitis Florida’s most common eye allergy. The conjunctiva consists of the clear tissue that lines your eyelids and the white of your eyes. It can react to almost invisible pollens in grasses, ragweed, and trees that can make blood vessels in the conjunctiva swell. The University of Florida notes that symptoms seem to worsen when the pollen count increases. Hot, dry, and windy days produce more allergic reactions while damp and rainy days clean the air of allergens.

Ragweed, Grasses, and Trees

Native to Florida, ragweed can produce more than 1 billion pollen spores per plant. More potent than goldenrod that produces a showy display, ragweed resembles a short fern with green leaves. Abundant in all but a few Florida counties, ragweed spreads its powdery substance when the wind blows. Its pollen can make your eyes swell and become watery and itchy.

Unlike poison ivy or other plants that cannot harm you unless you touch them, ragweed can find allergy sufferers almost anywhere. You may not see the allergens that grasses and trees emit, but they can produce a great effect anyway. Some lifestyle changes can help prevent ragweed eye allergies. Even though the Florida climate may allow you to open windows to enjoy the fresh air, the likelihood of a ragweed eye allergy can discourage the practice.

Mold

A fungus that produces air-borne spores, mold exists in bathrooms, kitchens, fallen leaves, and almost anywhere. It contributes to allergic conjunctivitis as well as other conditions. Fungal keratitis that affects the cornea makes the eyes red, light-sensitive, and subject to the need for antifungal medications. Exposure to mold can create a chronic dry eye, a serious issue. Eyes that do not have enough tears may allow bacteria to enter and cause infection. In addition, scratches on the cornea can occur.

Dust Mites

It may seem unlikely, but dust mites thrive in humidity. Not always coming from dust, they create allergens when you store clothing or bedding in humid closets or attics. Keeping temperatures in your home between 68 and 77 F and humidity below 50 percent can help control the dust mite population

Why do my allergies get worse in Florida?

The lush, semitropical environment in Florida with its warm and rainy weather can make allergies worsen. With climatic conditions that make the allergy season longer than in any other state, allergen producers have more time to create unpleasant effects on allergy sufferers. While freezing temperatures and the effects they produce on the environment control the pollen count in other states, Florida allows plants to continue growing year-round. Pollen-producing blooms and flowers make the landscape beautiful, but it creates an unending search for relief by anyone who suffers from pollen allergies.

How do you get rid of eye allergies?

Home remedies may provide relief in many cases. However, the most effective one may require you to find what triggers your allergy and avoid it. Not always a practical solution, but it may help if you can increase your awareness of when and where you experience discomfort. Pollen counts in Florida tend to reach the highest levels in the morning and again in the early evenings. Constant exposure to the damp and warm environment in Florida may not make it possible to get rid of eye allergies. However, you can find ways to control the discomfort they create.

The American Optometric Association notes that allergic conjunctivitis creates the most common surface disease in primary eye care. The seasonal condition and the perennial form create 95 percent of all cases of allergic conjunctivitis in the United States. While allergists usually treat respiratory responses to allergies, doctors of optometry can provide treatment for ocular allergies in Florida.

Cleaning and Storing Contact Lenses

Your optometrist’s instructions on proper care of your lenses may make a significant difference in combating eye allergies in Florida. When your eyes must cope with the challenges imposed by reactions to the environment, good lens hygiene may help prevent infection.

Cold Compresses

A cool, damp cloth over your eyes can feel good anytime, but it can soothe the itchiness of an eye allergy. The cloth may remain cool for about 10 minutes, giving you time to relax before reapplying it if you need it.

Resting

Taking a break from the computer, reading, or doing close work may provide some relief for eyes experiencing the stresses of an allergy. At intervals of 20 minutes can give your eyes an alternative to the intensity that activities require. During the break, try to focus your attention for about 20 seconds on something about 20 feet away.

Rubbing

The histamines that eye allergies produce become more plentiful when you rub your eyes. While the urge to rub your eyes may seem beneficial, it produces the opposite effect of making them itch more and become irritated.

Artificial Tears

A soothing over-the-counter solution may help remove the allergens that make your eyes itchy.

Allergy Eye Drops

Antihistamines in some OTC eye drops may give you some relief from the annoying itchiness of eye allergies in Florida. Recommendations from the manufacturer can give you guidance on how to use the drops.

How can I recognize symptoms of allergies in my eyes?

A burning sensation in your eyes provides a reliable indication of an allergy. Itchy and watery eyes provide additional clues to the condition. Symptoms that may seem familiar to you include tearing, blurry vision, swollen lids, redness, a burning sensation, and light sensitivity. Allergies may affect only your eyes.

In Florida, abundant greenery produces allergens from grasses, trees, and weeds. In addition, mold thrives in warm, moist environments. Dust mites flourish in humid conditions as well. Pet dander, cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, smoke, and perfume fragrances can create eye allergies anywhere, including in Florida.

When should I see an optometrist?

Everyone experiences eye itchiness at various times, making it a normal condition. However, when your eyes become red, painful, or produce a discharge, you may need to see your eye doctor. A diagnosis of a bacterial infection may require a prescription for antibiotic eye drops. If your condition indicates a problem more extensive than an allergy, an eye exam can pinpoint the problem and provide a basis for treatment. Your response to an eye allergy may provide the best indication of when to see an optometrist. Your familiarity with your reactions can indicate a routine case of eye allergy or something that may require a professional opinion.

Choosing Local Optometric Care

Residents of Odessa, Cheval, and Trinity can receive the finest optometric care without driving to Tampa. The expertise that patients can find with Dr. Christopher Tumolo at Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists makes a long drive unnecessary. A preference for providing patients with a genuine interest in a relaxed atmosphere can encourage patients to experience the bygone days of medicine.

Dr. Tumolo adopted the standards of practice when doctors listened to patients without regard for hurry or haste. This unique approach assures a deep understanding and compassion in your eye care. An emphasis on getting to know each patient and understanding their needs and concerns makes the experience especially valuable to anyone who has never received anything like it. The office location at 16230 State Road 54 in the Suncoast Crossings shopping center provides easy access from Gunn Highway or the Suncoast Parkway with a short drive from surrounding communities. An upscale office and a welcoming staff of professional eyecare providers offer high-quality professional care for local visitors and residents. Patients may schedule an appointment for an eye allergy exam at 813-926-5993.