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Eye care tips for hayfever sufferers

The summer months mean lovely sunny days, but it’s also the height of the pollen season and we see a number of patients dropping in to the practice to get eye care tips for hayfever sufferers.

Hayfever commonly affects the eyes, causing allergic conjunctivitis. Symptoms have been shown to be troublesome enough to interfere with quality of life, affecting leisure-time and sports activities, school performance and even work productivity.

Symptoms

  • Red eye
  • Itching of eye (main symptom)
  • Watering of eye
  • May be associated with sneezing and watery nasal discharge
  • Mild to moderate swelling of lids
  • Oedema (swelling) of conjunctiva

Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by certain seasonal allergens, depending on the time of year; e.g. tree pollen in spring; grasses in early summer; weeds and fungal spores in late summer.

Treatment

Treatment may include systemic anti-histamine tablets, often in conjunction with anti-histamine eye drops which we stock in the practice. The eye drops can be either Sodium Cromoglicate (eg Opticrom, Optrex Allergy) or Antazoline (Otrivine-Antistin).

Symptoms may also be relieved when outdoors by wearing close-fitting or wrapped sunglasses to minimise pollutants from the atmosphere affecting the eyes.

Please call in to the practice for advice regarding hayfever or any other concerns you may have with your eyes. For severe symptoms always consult your GP.