(HealthDay News) -- The great outdoors is rife with allergens that make your eyes itchy, red and watery.

The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests how to help protect against outdoor allergens:

• Get a head start on allergy season by taking your allergy medications a week or two before the season starts.
• If you plan to hike or camp, avoid scheduling trips during times of high pollen counts (May and June for grasses, September and October for ragweed).
• Stay away from hay and barns, and avoid activities such as raking leaves and mowing the grass.
• Wear sunglasses to help keep pollen out of the eyes.
• When you come back indoors, shower and wash your hair to remove pollen.
• Close doors and windows during pollen seasons.