General Tips Allergic Conjunctivitis

Stop or cut down smoking
Check if have family history of eye conditions and let your medical doctor know
Obtain an eye wash cap or cotton wool and bathe infected eye in boiled/cooled water or use eye wipes and dispose
If irritation around eyes or on eye lids, one can use a paraffin base product or simple eye ointment.
Avoid rubbing eyes.
Always wash your hands if you do touch your eyes.
Dispose your used tissues and do not share towels, pillow, flannels, and sunglasses.
Don’t wear eye makeup and dispose infected cosmetic products.
Use a humidifier at home and work. This will help to moisture the air. Have plenty of air circulate (open windows) and maintain a cool temperature.
Do not share eye drops.
Wear quality wraparound sunglasses with CE mark to protect your eyes.
Patient may get a taste of eye drops in mouth or failing that eye drops running back of the throat. This is normal as tears drain at back of nose. Eye drops may drain as well.

General Eye Vision

Limit alcohol intake, coffee, fizzy drinks and tea – they will dehydrate you.
Drink plenty of water.
Have regular eye examinations, especially if over 40 years old at least every two years.
Eat a healthy diet, low in unsaturated fats, high in fruit and vegetables.
Eat plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, kales, spinach, turnip tops, broccoli and carrots. These contain lots of nutrients that convert to Vitamin A.
Eat more Omega 3 fat products: tuna, mackerel, sardines, herring and salmon for good eye function. At least two portions weekly.
Do not smoke.
Have regular check up with doctor/optometrist particularly if any eye conditions, blood pressure, weak immune system i.e. diabetes.
Avoid eye injuries (wear protective goggles).
Keep physically active (choose exercise carefully, adopting head down position increases pressure in eyes).
If wearing lenses, always follow good hygiene routines as advised by your optician.
People wearing contact lens more than 5 days a week for longer than 12 hrs a day should see optometrist every six months.

How to use eye drops

Wash hands before opening the bottle.
Bend head backwards and pull down lower eye lid.
Put one drop into the eye and blink few times so medication can spread over whole eye. (Avoid touching the tip of product to eye).
Close the eye for a few minutes;
Wipe away any excess on face.
If you need more than one drop wait a few minutes before putting next drop.
Make sure the tip doesn’t touch your fingers or any other surface to prevent contamination.
Ensure the cap is replaced and hands are washed before resuming activities.
The bottle should be closed and store in a dark cool place after use.
Eye drops must be sterile.
Read instructions carefully. Some eye drops need to be kept in fridge e.g. Chloramphenicol.
Throw away eye drops (used or not) four weeks after opening unless stated otherwise (write the date when first opened on bottle).

Allergy:

One can do an allergy test at pharmacies to see what one allergic is to.
One can buy allergy test kits to find out what one is allergic to.
Use hypoallergenic products; avoid scented skin products, washes and bubble baths.
Use non biological washing powders.
Try to avoid allergens i.e. If washing up liquids wear gloves, throw all rotten foods away.
To not to scratch, keep nails short, wear mittens/gloves.
Wear non synthetic fabrics, cotton is best.
If recommended an antihistamine medication, please not to drink alcohol as can make you drowsy.
If suffer from anaphylactic shock, wear some form of information about condition.
Wear wraparound sunglasses if eyes are affected
Shower and wash hair before going to bed.
Wash face regularly and avoid scratching your eyes.
Wash/comb animals that have been in long grass, keep them out of your bedrooms.
Don’t stroke pets or let pets get close to your face or try to keep them out of the house as long as possible.
Don’t smoke and stop other people from smoking can irritate eyes nose and airways.
A good healthy diet to help ones immune system.
If runny nose or congestion affected, use petroleum jelly around nostrils, allergan will stick to petroleum jelly and protect nostrils.
Use air filters at home for cleaner air.

Contact lens wearers

Never:

Let soaps, cosmetics or other products touch your lenses.
Let the tip of the contact solution bottle touch any surface including the contact lens.
Re-use any lens solution.
Wear your lens in a harmful or irritating vapour and/or fumes environment.
Wear lens more than the time scale stated by manufacturer.
Swap or share contact lenses.

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