Desert Messenger

May 2, 2018 www.DesertMessenger.com 13 What to know about seasonal allergies and your eyes 1360 N. Moon Mountain, Quartzsite Amenities: Club House, Laundry Room, Library, Big Screen TV, 2 BBQ Areas with Picnic Tables, Mail Services & Showers. T ews & Date Palm RV Park Fire Station Tyson St. MAIN ST. Hwy. 95 Moon Moutnain N N Moon Mt. Ave. Tyson St. www.TewsRV.com 1360 N. Moon Mtn. Ave. PO Box 4870 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 928-927-8929 928-273-3442 (mobile) 928-916-9812 RV ROOF COATING FREE Estimate Very Reasonable! 1YR FREE Service w/Roof Call Bob (Not a licensed contractor) "One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure." ~ William Feather (StatePoint) Suffering from itchy, watery eyes? You may have ocular al- lergies or you could have another issue entirely, such as chronic dry eyes. Experts say that getting the correct diagnosis is the only way to treat symptoms properly. "Chronic dry eye often mimics the symptoms of seasonal allergies and must be approached entirely dif- ferently," says Arian Fartash, VSP network optometrist. "Many over- the-counter allergy treatments can actually make dry eyes worse, so make an appointment with your eye doctor to determine the exact cause of your discomfort." If your itchy and watery eyes are diagnosed as ocular allergies, Dr. Fartash recommends taking the following steps. • Limit your exposure to pollen on high pollen count days. • Wash your face after being out- side to reduce the amount of pollen on the skin. • Use cold compresses for some added relief. • Don't rub your eyes, as this will increase your body's overreaction to the irritants. • Remove contact lenses, which can attract allergens that accumu- late throughout the day. Consider wearing your glasses or switching to daily disposable contacts during allergy season. • Try over-the counter eye drops. There are a number of allergy drops that are formulated to relieve itchiness, redness, and watery eyes. But consult your optometrist to fi nd out which are the best recom- mended. • Consider prescription medica- tions. If the symptoms won't go away, you might need something stronger. Go see your eye doctor to discuss if a prescription medica- tion is right for you. You can fi nd a doctor local to you by consulting the VSP-network at vsp.com/fi nd- eye-doctors. Don't suffer this season. See your best and feel your best by getting your eye symptoms properly diag- nosed and treated. Photo (c) wingedwolf/stock.Adobe.com

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