NEBRASKA — If you are rubbing and scratching your eyes, you’re not alone.

According to experts, the pollen season has started early this year and, as the spring season blossoms, so do the sneezes and symptoms.

The culprit? A relatively mild winter season, timely precipitation, and high winds so far in the spring.

“[It’s] almost sort of a trifecta of things that have made pollen counts higher than what they have historically been in the past," Chief Medical Officer of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Dr. Timothy Tesmer said.

Tesmer said tree pollen is the big offender during the spring.

He recommends anyone who suffers from symptoms to approach it from a three-pronged attack.

First, stay away from those things that trigger symptoms and limit time outside.

Next, taking medications to treat what Tesmer calls “wet symptoms”: runny nose, itchy-eyes, and sneezing.

Finally, undergo allergy testing and figure out what a person is allergic to.

Tesmer said allergy shots or immunotherapy is also an option if the allergies are severe.

“Over time, the allergy immunotherapy would decrease ones allergic or immune system response to the allergies and they should be better overall," Tesmer said.

In a study done by the Asthmas and Allergy Foundation of America, Omaha finished top 25 as an allergy capital in the country.