How to take care of your eye health in autumn

As the autumn season approaches, it is the last of the summer weather, with shorter days and colder nights, falling leaves and dropping temperatures. Here are some tips to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable through the autumnal months. Here is my list of autumn eye care tips.

Keep Your Sunglasses on in the Autumn To Protect Your Eyes

As the temperature drops and the summer sun appears lower with cloudy grey skies, our eyes are still at risk of damage from harmful UV rays. Sunglasses are necessary for all seasons.

Caring for Dry Eyes During Autumn

With autumn breezes may come itchy, irritated and watery eyes. That may exacerbate conditions like dry eye. It is important to keep your eyes moist and healthy throughout this season. As the weather becomes colder, the air is dryer. It is recommended to pick up some over the counter eye drops to relieve your eyes. Therefore, you may also consider applying a warm compress to your eyelids.

Protect Your Eyes Against Irritants and Allergens

As the leaves fall, allergens like pollen, mould and dust are more likely to be around. You can minimise your exposure to airborne allergens by frequently washing your hands, keeping your home and floorings clean, never putting your hands directly to your eyes and driving with the windows closed.

Wear Protective Eye Wear While Gardening

Gardening in autumn may involve, raking and blowing leaves. This may cause plant material to enter your eyes. To avoid eye conditions like fungal keratitis be sure to wear protective eyewear. If you are a contact lens wearer, make sure you always disinfect them after doing any gardening.

In conclusion, autumn eye allergies, including symptoms of dryness and irritation, appear to be common during this season. We recommend that you visit an ophthalmologist to maintain your eye health and detect any underlying eye conditions.

Samer Hamada is a distinguished consultant ophthalmologist and cornea surgeon performing eye surgeries at his practice, Eye Clinic London. With nearly two decades’ experience, Mr Hamada is recognised as a leading expert in the field of cataract, refractive lens exchange (RLE) and corneal surgeries.