Spring in Asheville brings blooming landscapes, longer days, and increased outdoor activity, but for many people, it also brings dry, irritated eyes. As allergy season ramps up across Western North Carolina, eye discomfort is often blamed on pollen alone. In reality, spring is one of the most important times to address underlying dry eye disease.

At Asheville Eye Associates, April is when many patients begin seeking longer-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms. Understanding why spring impacts eye comfort, and what treatment options are available, can help you protect your vision before symptoms worsen.

Why Dry Eye Symptoms Increase in Spring

Seasonal changes can significantly affect the health of your eyes. Increased pollen, shifting humidity levels, wind exposure, and longer hours spent on digital devices can all contribute to dry eye flare-ups. For many patients, these symptoms are linked to inflammation and poor tear quality rather than a lack of tears alone.

Common symptoms include burning, redness, fluctuating vision, excessive tearing, and eye fatigue. When left untreated, dry eye disease can interfere with daily comfort and visual clarity.

How IPL Therapy Helps Treat Dry Eye

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive treatment designed to address one of the most common causes of dry eye disease: inflammation and blocked oil glands along the eyelids. By supporting healthier oil flow, IPL helps stabilize the tear film and improve overall eye comfort.

IPL treatments are quick, comfortable, and require little to no downtime. Many patients notice improvement after a series of treatments, making spring an ideal time to begin therapy before summer conditions add additional strain to the eyes.

Why April Is an Ideal Time to Seek Treatment

Treating dry eye in April allows patients to get ahead of peak allergy season and prepare for increased outdoor activity and screen time. Addressing symptoms early may help reduce reliance on artificial tears and prevent worsening discomfort later in the year.

Spring is also a natural reset period for overall eye health, making it a smart time to schedule an evaluation and explore treatment options tailored to your needs.

Take the Next Step Toward Eye Comfort

If dry or irritated eyes are affecting your daily life, IPL therapy may offer the relief you’ve been looking for. At Asheville Eye Associates, our team provides personalized care and advanced treatment options designed to improve eye comfort and quality of life.

Schedule an evaluation this spring and give your eyes the attention they deserve.

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As March arrives in Asheville and Western North Carolina, early spring brings more than blooming landscapes – it also signals the start of allergy season. Tree pollen often appears earlier than expected, and for many people, that means irritated, dry, or uncomfortable eyes. Taking a proactive approach now can help you stay comfortable and protect your vision as the seasons change.

Early Spring Allergies and Your Eyes

In Asheville, tree pollen levels can begin rising in late February and early March. Common symptoms include itchy or burning eyes, redness, excessive tearing, a gritty sensation, and contact lens discomfort. While these symptoms are often dismissed as minor, persistent irritation can interfere with daily activities and visual clarity. A comprehensive eye exam can help determine whether your symptoms are related to seasonal allergies, dry eye disease, or another condition – and guide you toward effective treatment options.

Dry Eye Relief as Seasons Change

Seasonal transitions can worsen dry eye symptoms due to changes in humidity, wind, and airborne allergens. If you notice fluctuating vision, eye fatigue, or stinging sensations, it may be time to explore advanced treatment options. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive option available at Asheville Eye Associates that targets inflammation linked to dry eye disease. IPL can help improve tear quality and may also reduce redness around the eyes, making it a beneficial treatment during allergy season.

Considering Vision Correction This Spring

Spring is a popular time to explore vision correction options like LASIK. With longer days and more outdoor activities ahead, many patients consider reducing their dependence on glasses or contact lenses.  A LASIK consultation allows your doctor to evaluate your eye health and determine whether LASIK or another vision correction procedure may be right for you – helping you plan ahead for the months to come.

Take Care of Your Eyes This March

Spring in Asheville brings new energy – and new challenges for eye health. Addressing allergy symptoms early, managing dry eye, and planning ahead for vision or cosmetic care can help you enjoy the season comfortably and clearly. Schedule your appointment with Asheville Eye Associates today and give your eyes the attention they deserve this spring.

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The simple fact behind the headaches, blurry vision, and tired, dry eyes is that we don’t blink as often while using computers and other digital devices, leaving eyes dry and irritated. And when we focus at the same distance for a long time, it can cause our vision to blur temporarily, and the muscles around the eye to tire, which can cause headaches. Extended reading, writing or other intensive near work can also cause eye strain.

To fix this problem, our doctors recommend taking a 20 second break from near work every 20 minutes. Here are some tips to help parents remind kids to follow this vital rule:

• Set a timer. Whether a kitchen timer or a smart device, use it to remind your child to take a break every 20 minutes.
• Alternate reading an e-book with a real book. Encourage children to look up and out the window every two chapters or simply shut their eyes for 20 seconds.
• Pre-mark books with paperclips every few chapters. When they reach a paper clip, it will remind them look up. On an e-book, use the “bookmark” function for the same effect.

Good ergonomics is as important as resting the eyes periodically. We tend to use digital devices at less than ideal distances and angles, which leads to eyestrain. To encourage good posture and better habits, set up a “home office” for your kids. Follow these tips to optimize their workspace:

• Make sure they view laptops at arm’s length, about 18 to 24 inches from where they are sitting. Ideally, they should have a monitor positioned at eye level, directly in front of the body. Tablets should also be held at arm’s length.
• To reduce glare, position the light source behind the back, not behind the computer screen.
• Adjust the brightness and contrast on the screen so that it feels comfortable for them.
• Don’t use a device outside or in brightly lit areas; the glare on the screen can cause eye strain.
• Avoid using a device in a dark room. As the pupil expands to accommodate the darkness, the brightness of the screen can aggravate after-images and cause discomfort.
• Put down the device 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Blue light may disrupt sleep. For your procrastinating teens, switch to “night mode” or a similar mode to reduce blue light exposure.

Lastly, make sure they spend some time outdoors. Computer use and other near work activities may be driving a worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness in children, although this is not yet proven. However, several studies suggest that spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, can slow the progression of nearsightedness.

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• Myth #1: Sunglasses are only for sunny days
  UV light gets through clouds and haze. Regardless of the season, sun exposure can increase the risk of developing cataracts, growths on the eyeand cancer. Sun reflecting off ice and snow can also lead to photokeratitis, a painful eye condition sometimes referred to as snow blindness.
• Myth #2: Babies and children don’t need to wear sunglasses
  Children are just as susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays as adults. Start them on healthy habits early.
• Myth #3: Cheap sunglasses don’t offer protection
  Sunglasses don’t have to cost a lot of money to provide adequate eye protection. Less expensive pairs marked as 100 percent UV-blocking can be just as effective as more expensive options. Labels can sometimes be confusing. Some indicate sunglasses offer 100 percent protection from UVA/UVB radiation, others offer 100 percent UV 400 protection. Both block 100 percent of the sun’s harmful radiation.
• Myth #4: Size doesn’t matter
  The more coverage sunglasses provide, the less sun damage inflicted on the eyes. Consider oversized sunglasses or wraparound-style glasses, which can help cut down on UV light entering the eye from the side. Wraparound glasses may also protect against dry eye due to the wind.
• Myth #5: Polarized lenses offer more protection from the sun
  Polarized lenses do not block more radiation; however, they can cut down on glare reflecting off cars, water or pavement, which can make activities such as driving or boating more enjoyable.
• Myth #6: Darker lenses offer more protection from the sun
  The darkness of the lens isn’t indicative of protection. Make sure the label on the lens says 100% UV-blocking.
• Myth #7: Tinted lenses offer more protection from the sun
  Amber, green and grey lenses do not block more of the sun’s harmful rays. However, tinted lenses do offer increased contrast for those who play sports, making a softball or a golf ball easier to see.

“Your eyes need protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays just like your skin,” said Dianna Seldomridge, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Sunglasses are your prescription for eye health. They are effective, inexpensive, and provide protection year-round.”

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Asheville Eye Associates is excited to announce the renovations of our Arden office are now complete! This renovation includes 8 new exam rooms, multiple state-of-the-art diagnostic testing rooms and the latest in optical and contact lens technology.

With 38 years combined experience, Doctors Stephanie Brien, Shannon Ardaiolo, and Rachel Davis will continue to provide excellence in comprehensive eye care to patients in our Arden office.

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We are excited to welcome Dr. Jordan Masters to our practice. Dr. Masters is a fellowship-trained cornea specialist, skilled to operate and treat conditions related to the front part of the eye. Outside of comprehensive eye care, Dr. Masters will offer state-of-the-art cataract surgery and corneal transplantation techniques as well as refractive procedures including LASIK and PRK in our new state of the art Laser Vision Correction Center. His excitement for patient care and passion for minimally invasive, technology-driven procedures are an enormous asset to our patients at Asheville Eye Associates.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Masters and his family to Asheville!

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Currently we are displaying “With These Hands” An Appalachian Barn Photography Exhibit by Bonnie Cooper http://www.bonniecooperphotography.com/ and Don McGowan http://www.earthsongphotography.com/  Bonnie and Don ‘s exhibit is comprised of 16 photographs which document the tradition and history of the barns of Madison County.  “I wish to capture their beauty while it is still possible and contribute to preserving their legacy, ” said Bonnie.

If you couldn’t make it to the reception and presentation by Taylor Barnhill and Don McGowan in March, you can see the exhibit at our office through June or read a bit more about it  here:    http://thelaurelofasheville.com/lifestyle/exhibit-spotlights-the-beauty-stories-of-old-barns/

We also are enjoying the richly complex and intriguing designs of Mark Olivari, the Cosmic Doodler.http://cosmicdoodler.com/  Olivari was born in Kobe, Japan and traveled the world with his parents before his family settled in New Orleans where he later played football at Tulane. He and his wife Susan, an accomplished oil painter,  moved to WNC in 2006.    They live in Saluda with their young daughter.  Mark is the owner of Scrounger’s Paradise (located off Sweeten Creek Road)http://www.scroungersparadise.com/index.php  and Susan runs The Art House in Flat Rock, NC.  In addition to prints the Cosmic Doodler also sells large originals on birch wood tablets.

We’re also thrilled to display the weavings of Margery Miller.  Originally from New York, Margery spent her career as a professional photographer for the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy in New Mexico.  She is inspired by nature; by the positive and negative spaces and patterns created by light and dark.  She has traveled around the globe photographing foreign cultures and architecture.  Margery has been weaving for about 35 years as a way of expressing her creative energy.  She has exhibited in Ogden, Utah and Los Alamos, New Mexico.  While in New Mexico, she was fortunate enough to meet and be inspired by some of the well-known contemporary Hispanic weavers in the Rio Grande Valley from the Mexican border to the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado, rich in textile production.  She has been published in many books and magazines.

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AEA established a goal to raise money for IronGirls to be used to help the program expand to include more schools and more youth in Western North Carolina.   Currently the program is available to middle school girls at the following  area schools:  The Asheville Academy for Girls, The Franklin School of Innovation, Asheville Middle School through the In Real Life (IRL) after school program of the Asheville City School Foundation, and Francine Delaney New School.  IronGirls programming is available as an elective course at some schools and at others as an after school progam (such as the IRL program at Asheville Middle School).  One important fact to know is that open enrollment is offered for the IronGirls program (even if the attendee’s school is not participating) and payment is available on a sliding scale.  In its third year (the program was initiated in December 2014 by founder Amber Beane), the IronGirls program was expanded to include adolescent males this past winter.  For more information about IronGirls or to find out about volunteer opportunities (training provided) with the organization contact http://www.irongirls.org  This summer IronGirls will offer two sessions of summer camp which will run July 11-15 and July 25-29.  Camp hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm; contact IronGirls for more informationhttp://www.irongirls.org   Scholarships and transportation are available!

This yea’r fundraiser events have included t-shirt sales, a bake sale, inspirational quote book sales, a yard sale and a staff volunteer team which helped out at the June 4 Asheville Half-Marathon to raise money for IronGirls (see the photo of Misty and Randy below who helped man a water station at the Half Marathon).  On July 13 we invite you to our front lawn at 8 Medical Park Drive for a hamburger cookout lunch.  And our signature event, the 4th Annual Run the Forest 5K and 1 Mile Walk will be held Saturday, September 24.  Registration is now open at http://communityfitnessevents.com/run-the-forest-5k/ for the events with early bird pricing discount available until August 31.  Sign up now as an individual or a team.  The 5K is a USTFA-certified course is somewhat hilly but accessible to newbies and experienced runners.  It  starts and ends at Carolina Day School (1345 Hendersonville Road) and routes through Biltmore Forest.  This year’s Run the Forest 5K is also part of the Asheville Track Club Grand Prix event series!  Runners and walkers can sign up individually or create their own team, so get your team together and sign up your friends and family to help support this awesome program!  The first 300 registrants are guaranteed an event shirt, free water and snacks and a “swag bag” .  Cash prizes for overall top male and female runners, overall top male and female Masters runners and top three male and top three female runners in all age categories; check the reg page for all details.

We’re really thankful to Carolina Day School, our Platinum Sponsor again this year, and to all of our community partners who have supported our fundraiser this year.  Hope to see you July 13 and/or September 24!  For more information please contact Katy Farlow at (828)258-1586, Ext. 2331.

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