Hay fever relief: An expert's guide

Hay fever, a prevalent allergic condition affecting one in five individuals at some point in their lives, manifests through symptoms such as itchy, red, or watery eyes, as well as a runny nose and sneezing. In his latest article, renowned consultant optometrist Mr Sachin Patel offers his expert insight into this condition including the symptoms, treatment and home remedies.

What causes hay fever?

Individuals may exhibit hay fever symptoms due to an allergic reaction to pollen, the fine powder released by plants. When these minute particles make contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat, they prompt an immune response, leading to swelling, irritation, and inflammation.

Pollen sensitivity varies among individuals, with some experiencing particularly sensitive eyes. The body's natural response involves attempting to wash out the pollen, resulting in watery eyes that may also become red, itchy, and sticky as the immune system reacts.

What are my treatment options?

Although no cure exists for hay fever, symptom relief is possible, and many individuals notice improvements as they age. In urban areas with higher pollution levels, symptoms may exacerbate. Treatment options during the pollen season include:

• Over-the-counter eye medicine: Sodium cromoglycate stabilizes mast cells, and anti-histamine drops target the issue directly, requiring a loading dose before the season and around four times daily.
• Prescribed drops: A combination of the above with lower frequency of use and high effectiveness can be prescribed.
• Oral antihistamine: These are recommended pre-season and during, but their impact on the eyes is generally limited.
• Cold compresses: Cooling closed eyelids with cold compresses can alleviate itchy and puffy eyes by constricting blood vessels that release histamine.
• Soothing lubricants: Over-the-counter eye drops can soothe the eyes and rinse histamine off the eye surface.
• Steroids: Severe symptoms may necessitate a short course of steroids.
• IPL (Intense Pulse Light): Proven effective at reducing the inflammatory response for a longer-lasting effect.

Many individuals with allergic conjunctivitis also experience dry eye/MGD. Treating dry eyes concurrently or ideally before allergy season is advantageous. As advanced optometrists, we are uniquely positioned to provide medical treatment, including IPL.

Top tips for reducing symptoms:

• Monitor the pollen forecast, available at the Met Office.
• Stay indoors when the pollen count is high, considering individual variations in pollen sensitivity.
• Wearing wraparound sunglasses reduces pollen contact with the eyes.
• After spending time outdoors, shower, wash hair, and change clothes to remove pollen from the skin and hair.
• Switching from contact lens use to spectacle use may be beneficial.
• Avoid alcohol when hay fever symptoms are at their worst, as it may exacerbate allergies
• Dry washed clothes indoors during the peak pollen season.

If you would like to book a consultation with Mr Patel, you can do so today via his Top Doctors profile.