Pictured above: David Burghardt
With the hayfever season now in full swing a local optometrist
is offering Lincoln's hayfever sufferers a specialist eye treatment
to reduce irritation caused by the allergy.
The award-winning David Burghardt Vision Care practice in
Nettleham is a specialist therapeutic optometrist and is authorised
to prescribe Opatanol eye drops which have been proven to be more
effective than traditional hayfever drops.
Popular in America, the drops combine the advantages of
antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers to give the best relief to
sufferers.
What's more, they only need to be used twice instead of four
times a day which is perfect for contact lens wearers as they can
administer the drops before putting in and after removing their
lenses.
David said: "The drops combine the benefits of both
antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers which means hayfever
patients can now have the best of both worlds through this new
treatment, gaining quick but long-term relief.
"Previously antihistamine drops provided relief within the hour
but could only be used for a short period of time, whereas mast
cell stabilisers offer long-term relief but often take up to a week
to have an impact."
Hayfever affects over 20% of the UK population - two out of
every ten people. It causes a release of histamine from the tissue
which lines the eyelids, making the eyes red, swollen, itchy and
sensitive to light.
In addition to the new eye drops available for people with
hayfever, David also offers some useful advice to reduce the effect
of the allergic condition which is a result of airborne
pollens.
"If you can't avoid the pollen outside then you can help by
wearing wraparound eye protectors or sun spectacles," he said.
"This reduces the exposure of the eyes to the pollen, lessening the
symptoms."
He added: "Wraparound spectacles are best but contact lenses can
still be worn. Daily disposables are the most practical during the
hayfever season and help to protect the eyes in some instances.
"Keep eyes moist by using lubricating eye drops that will also
wash pollen and histamines from the eyes and soothe the tissues.
Keeping the drops in the fridge helps as the cold lubricant takes
away the heat and reduces the swelling."
Top hayfever tips:
1. Wear wraparound spectacles or sunglasses
2. Use daily disposable lenses
3. Using lubricating eye drops to wash pollen and histamines
from the eyes
4. Keep eye drops in the fridge to help reduce heat and swelling
of the eye
5. Showering after being outside washes away pollens from your
hair, skin and eyes