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The Science Behind the Symptoms |
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The onslaught of hay fever is characterised by redness, itching, and watery eyes to name a few of the symptoms. The irritation occurs because your body mistakes pollen as a threat and fires up its defences in response. Antibodies are released to fight the intruder, and proteins in the antibodies trigger your white blood cells to release histamine and other substances, which produce the inflammatory response in your body. |
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As the most common form of ocular (eye-related) allergy, hay fever tends to fester in your eyes. On top of the mild symptoms above, you’re likely to experience burning, stinging and swelling in the eyelids and conjunctiva (the clear tissue that covers the surface of your eyeballs), which gives you a runny nose, constant sneezing, and even blurred vision. |
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And if you’re ‘atopic’ – someone who suffers from eczema, asthma or other allergies – you’re more likely to suffer from hay fever. |
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The best way to stop it is to avoid pollen altogether but there are other ways to counter the signals that are produced by our bodies in response. |
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Alex’s 7 Ways to Soothe ‘Hay Fever Eyes’ |
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1. Pop it |
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Antihistamine tablets offer effective relief against watery eyes and a runny nose by blocking the body’s production of histamine, which it does when it thinks it’s under attack. |
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2. Drop it |
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Frequent use of allergy drops can help prevent hay fever as they soothe and stabilise the mast cells (white blood cells that are part of your immune system) which cause itching and sneezing. |
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3. Shade it |
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Sunglasses are great as a preventative measure for hay fever. Go for a wraparound pair to help reduce pollen contact with your eyes. |
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4. Sweat it |
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A recent study found that those with hay fever who exercise regularly tend to have milder symptoms. Outdoor running and cycling are best done in the middle of the day when the pollen count is usually at its lowest. |
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5. Spray it |
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Use a high-quality eye spray to wash pollutants and allergens out of your eyes. Spray onto closed eyelids, then blink. The blink lets it seep into the eyes and performs a light flush, removing any surface settled pollen. Go for a preservative-free spray like the MTHK Eye Spray (£15.99, mthk.com or amazon.co.uk) because preservatives can cause additional allergies and irritation over time. |
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6. Cool it |
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Try putting eye drops and sprays in the fridge before use for extra relief, especially in warm weather. |
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7. Prescribe it |
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If you suffer from severe hay fever, you may be prescribed steroid drops by an ophthalmologist. Its use needs to be very closely monitored to make sure there’s no raised pressure in your eyes. Alex Ionides, Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and co-founder of MTHK
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