Winter Eye Allergies: Tips for Managing Symptoms in Colder Months

The first day of winter doesn’t officially arrive until Dec. 21, but our area has already seen plenty of cold days and nights this fall. For many, winter weather brings on the signs and symptoms of winter eye allergies. 

Daniel Tepper, MD, and his team at Wicker Park Eye Center in Chicago, Illinois, are happy to share some tips on managing winter eye allergies this season. 

How do you know if you have winter eye allergies?

Cold weather can be challenging for eye health. More time spent indoors can expose your eyes to allergy triggers, such as pet dander and the dust mites and mold spores that often reside in heating ducts. 

Winter weather tends to create drier air than during spring and summer. And virtually all forms of heating further remove moisture from the air. Most types of pollen are absent in winter, but a few plants can still trigger allergies, and mold spores are present in damp outdoor areas. 

Symptoms of winter eye allergies include:

• Redness
• Itching
• Watering
• Burning sensations
• Discharge
• Puffy or swollen skin around the eyes

Fortunately, you can take steps to minimize these symptoms. 

How to manage winter eye allergy symptoms

The best way to stay on top of winter eye allergy symptoms is to determine and avoid your eye allergy triggers.

For example, if dry air appears to be the cause of your winter eye allergies, add moisture to the air in your living environment with a humidifier. Placing a pan of water over a radiant heat source works too. Lubricating eye drops can help with allergies and dry eyes. 

If dust mites and mold seem to be the primary sources of symptoms, consider an HVAC duct cleaning service. We need reliable heat during Chicago winters, but reducing the volume of allergy triggers in our heating systems can go a long way toward managing symptoms. 

Many pet owners get through the warmer months without eye allergy symptoms, but when the cold temperatures and drier air of winter move in, pet dander becomes a real issue.

You may find relief by grooming your pet more often during cold weather. Limiting their access to your bed can help, as can laundering your bedding more frequently.

Don’t accept eye allergy symptoms as inevitable

If these tactics don’t bring relief from winter eye allergy symptoms, consider professional care. We can help determine whether winter eye allergies are causing your symptoms and direct you toward treatments to help you find lasting relief. 

There’s no need to live with the discomfort and inconvenience of winter eye allergies. At Wicker Park Eye Center, we’re committed to helping our patients who struggle with dry, burning, itchy, and watery eyes, no matter the season. 

For help with your eye allergies, call our office or request an appointment online today.