Oh, we’re going outside - outside?

Written By Keirston Simpson

Happy Spring Y’all! Have you adjusted to the time change yet? I’m still adjusting to darker mornings, but oh how I love longer days.

With many COVID-19 restrictions being lifted (hopefully for good), we’re headed back outside for real this time! The weather is changing for many of us, and outside is definitely calling. In our hast to return to our new normal, we quickly need to remember about that demon that attacks many of us during the spring! You know the stuff, that pesty pollen and all the allergens springtime brings.

If wearing eyewear is a requirement for you and you also suffer from seasonal allergies like me, we hate the beginning of spring more than we hate foggy lenses in the winter. In this issue, I’ll give some tips on how I survive wearing eyewear through allergy season.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor in any shape, form, or fashion. The allergy relief tips listed below are simply my opinion and what works for me based on the advisement from my personal medical doctors for my medical concerns & needs over the years. Use at your own discretion or simply discuss your issues & concerns with your doctor. Also, I am not being compensated for my review of eyewear and products in this issue. These tips are personal opinions. Happy Reading!

GIF courtesy of www.google.com

Yes Daria! This is exactly how my eyes feel when pollen season emerges! Growing up in south Alabama, I couldn’t understand why my eyes were so itchy year-round. Doctors simply could not explain it and I tried every remedy under the sun. It was not until my freshman year of college that I learned that I was allergic to everything in my parents’ yard - EVERYTHING: from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope - ok, there were no leaping antelope, but the Mufasa reference was funny.

For me, my doctors recommended some simple remedies to calm my itchy eyes during allergy season. Here are a few tips:

  • Keep your eyewear and hands clean & your hands from your eyes as much as possible. Pollen and airborne allergies are sticky. Clean your eyewear often to remove allergens and fingerprints from the lenses. Keeping your eyewear and hands clean can help resolve most itchy eye symptoms. Constant scratching of the eyes can cause severe damage to your cornea and other areas of your eye.

  • A cold compress will ease swelling and itchiness. The first thing I do when I get home during allergy season is wash my hands and moisten a paper towel and dab my eyes to remove any allergen residue, flip the paper towel inside out (or grab a new one) and allow the paper towel to rest on my eyes for a few moments. I use a paper towel so that I can discard the pollen instead of using a face/hand towel (my daughter suffers from severe allergies as well). On days when a paper towel isn’t enough relief, moisten a face/hand towel, place it in the freezer for a few minutes and proceed with the previous steps above. It helps to calm the eye, remove itchiness, and decrease puffiness of the eyelids.

  • Try Visine Allergy Eye Relief Multi-Symptom. Typically, eye drops are my last resort. Using the drops provides instant relief, but I try to utilize natural remedies at all costs.

  • Wear Eyeglasses or Sunglasses. Eyewear can reduce the amount of pollen that gets in the eyes by deflecting the wind carrying it toward you.

  • Try oral antihistamines or a Neti Pot. Oral antihistamines can prevent irritation of both the eye and the nose. If sneezing or sinus draining is a severe side effect during allergy season, a Neti Pot will help flush out mucus and debris in the nasal cavity. I find immediate relief while using my Neti Pot.

  • If all else fails, visit your ophthalmologist or family doctor.

THIS WEEK’S EYEWEAR:

I purchased these frames from www.zeelool.com for only $9.95. I know what you may be thinking, these frames look very fall-ish. The weather hasn’t completely changed here, and I love this shade of green. When I bought these frames, I immediately thought of this sweatshirt from Mess in a Bottle (www.messinabottle.com). It gave me sophisti-ratchet vibes and a true indication of how I feel now that we back outside - outside! Paired with distressed mom jeans and heels, this outfit is perfect for brunch, day party, or a casual date night.

All About Lismary:

That 9-5: These are office ready!

Girl’s Day Out: Absolutely!

BAE Night: Yes!

Loungin’: I haven’t tried it yet.

Overall, I give these frames a 5 out of 5! The fit is amazing, and the wood look across the top is fun!

I know we are all happy to be back outside and hopeful that COVID cases will continue to decrease or become obsolete. Although COVID has worn many of us out, pollen is a nuisance in its own right. Being proactive during pollen season can ease any, if not cure all, of the physical discomforts the season brings. Listed below are the brands of Visine and Neti Pot that I personally use. I hope this may help. For more daily content, follow necessory on Instagram & TikTok at @_necessory_. Let’s enjoy outside again! Happy Spring!

-Keirston

Photo courtesy of www.google.com

Photo courtesy of www.google.com

Keirston Simpson
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