Allergies And Contacts

If your allergies are flaring up right now, you're not alone. Part of the problem might lie in contacts.

I think most of us are familiar with it this time of the year. Runny nose, constant sneezing and watery/itchy eyes. It's definitely allergy time again. But when it comes to your red, watery and itchy eyes, how much you suffer could depend on how you use your contacts.

According to a newly released statement by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America most people with eye allergy symptoms say Spring is the worst time of year. And for contact lens wearers, Spring can be particularly frustrating. Nearly half say they can't even wear contacts every day this time of the year because of eye allergy problems.

It turns out switching to a "one-day" lens might help solve the issue. Contact lenses you use more long term, switching out only monthly or every other week, can gather deposits. Plus, research has shown that not everyone replaces these lenses when their supposed to, giving them even more time to gather deposits. And some of those deposits on the lenses you put back in your eye can increase allergy symptoms, especially in the Spring.

So, according to this group, switching to "one-day" contacts this time of the year might also give you some relief from the redness and itching that sometimes goes with Spring in the Rockies.