Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Temperatures start to cool down, and the summer hordes have already disbanded. Many people immediately associate this season with time well-spent outdoors. Hiking through the gorgeous foliage, camping under the starry night skies, apple-picking — these are just a few of the hallmarks of autumn.
Eye-Related Problems to Avoid This Fall
The humidity may go, the leaves turn brilliant colors, and the days get shorter. But fall may also bring some health hazards, such as allergens and increased risk of ultraviolet ray damage. Here are four of the common eye health problems you should beware of this fall:
Dry Eyes. As the fall season approaches, the air becomes drier, causing your eyes to dry out. Many people suffer from the discomfort associated with this condition, which could be caused by a tear-flow imbalance, hormonal changes, age, and side effects from certain medications. Several environmental factors, like windy conditions, also trigger dry eye syndrome. Hot and low humidity surroundings also keep your eyes from producing enough tears to keep the surface of your eyes moist.
Allergies. About 35 million Americans complain about seasonal allergies. Complaints often spike during spring and fall seasons. Eye allergies are generally caused by particles that plants release. These include pollens and molds and their spores. When these particulates reach your body, they trigger an allergic response, which causes watery eyes, runny rose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and nose. Allergic reactions may also lead to inflammation and more severe cases of eye infection.
Injuries. Performing usual yard clean up during the fall season may put you at risk of specific eye-related injuries. For example, flying debris from raking leaves and mowing the lawn may cause eye trauma. The dust and dirt from using leaf blowers can also get into your eyes, causing a corneal abrasion. This is a common eye injury associated with eye pain, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. Slipping on wet leaves can also lead to hard blows to your eyes. A severe fall may even break your eye socket bones.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light Exposure. During the fall and winter seasons, the sun shifts at an angle that the light hits right above your brow bone. Even if the sun may not shine as brightly or as often during these times, the exposure can still lead to irritation and strain to your eyes. You may not even be aware of the source of such discomfort. As you know, prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause optic damage. Long-term exposure to harmful UV rays has been linked to the early onset of cataracts and even implicated in the development of other eye conditions. These include macular degeneration and photokeratitis.
You need to take care of your eye health throughout the year. Find out how you can guard your vision against common seasonal hazards through our team of experts from Grin Eye Care in Kansas. Call any of our clinics in Leawood and Olathe today for more information. We also have satellite locations in Paola and Lawrence, Kansas, and Raymore and Independence, Missouri.
