Dealing with The Effects of Hay Fever – What’s the Antidote for Your Eyes?

It’s that time of year again. The first tree blossoms and spring flowers are here AND seasonal allergies are starting to show. Sneezing and a runny nose are one thing, but sore, itchy eyes can be one of the worst effects of hay fever. You don’t have to suffer in silence though – we have some ideas for you on how to stop itchy eyes resulting from hay fever.

If You Have Sore Eyes, Hay Fever May Not Be the Culprit

First of all, you need to be sure that hay fever is the reason for your sore eyes. Dry eye syndrome can be a cause of red, itchy or sore eyes, and there are a number of causes of this condition.

So, if your eyes are feeling gritty, sore and itchy, and you don’t normally suffer from hay fever, it might be worth contacting one of our opticians in Dunfermline, Kinross, Inverkeithing over telephone first for further advice.

Please note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are not open for routine appointments, only essential eyecare, so it is imperative that you call us first to discuss your symptoms.

How to Stop Itchy Eyes Resulting from Hay Fever

Once you’re sure hay fever is the culprit, you can look at your options for managing and relieving your sore eyes. Hay fever is a pollen allergy, and it’s helpful to be aware of which plants affect you. Many people are allergic to tree pollen, with symptoms from hazel, yew and alder starting as early as January or February.

Grass pollen tends to affect people most in June and July, and of course, various flowers can set off symptoms at different times of the year. Once you’ve figured out which plants you’re most affected by, you can try to avoid them. It might seem extreme, but on high pollen count days, you might want to try and stay indoors with windows and doors shut.

Other simple things you can do include wearing glasses or sunglasses – wraparound styles offer more protection from pollen. Wearing glasses rather than contact lenses when the pollen count is high will help. You can also bathe your eyes regularly with cold water to wash off any pollen.

You might even want to change your clothes and shower after being outside, as pollen will cling to your clothes, skin and hair. Think twice about hanging your clothes outside to dry too as they will collect pollen so drying them indoors might be better for you.

Treating Hay Fever

A large number of hay fever treatments are available now. Antihistamines come in tablet or nasal spray form, and there are also eye drops containing antihistamines. These calm the body’s response to irritants and allergies, but sometimes even they aren’t effective enough.

Contact Us

If you find over the counter eye drops aren’t helping, please contact us via telephone to discuss your symptoms so we can advise you accordingly and book an appointment for you if necessary at one of our opticians in Dunfermline, Kinross, Inverkeithing or our any of our other locations.