‘Tis the season for sniffing, sneezing, and itching. Along with the beauties of spring, we have the inevitable onset of seasonal allergies and all the delightful symptoms that brings. Eye rubbing is such a common occurrence this time of year but can wreak havoc on your eyes for many reasons. • First off, we always urge people to keep hands away from the eyes because rubbing can actually deform, or warp your corneas. Eye rubbing is one of the leading causes of a sight-threatening disease called Keratoconus. More on that topic soon! • GERMS! Your hands carry more germs than any other part of your body and rubbing the eyes can spread those germs and lead to infection. • With airborne pollen and allergens this time of year from blooming trees and flora, it’s easy to get a foreign body in your eye. If you rub when there is something in your eye it can lead to corneal abrasions or other corneal damage. But how do I stop rubbing, you may ask. Rubbing the eyes is so common that we often don’t even realize we’re doing it! Here are some quick tips and tricks to help prevent rubbing. • If there is ever something in your eye, flush the eye with saline solution or artificial tears. Don’t try to pick it out with your fingers or rub the eye. You can also try gently lifting the lid and rolling your eye around a bit, then dabbing gently in the corner of your eye with a clean tissue. • Keep your eyes well lubricated with a good quality artificial tear. Anything that claims to “get the red out” is not good for your eyes, avoid these types of drops. • If you have seasonal allergies, talk with your optometrist about a good allergy drop that can help alleviate the itchiness. • Wear a good set of sunglasses outside. Always a good idea, but it may also help with keeping your hands away from your eyes when outdoors. • If you wear contact lenses, be sure you remove them daily to clean them and allow the eye to “breathe”. Never sleep in your contacts and always change them out according to schedule.