Can hay fever cause dry eyes

Can hay fever cause dry eyes

Hay fever is a common annoyance, especially for Britons, as we have a great deal of wonderful countryside all across the country. But whether you live in an urban or rural environment, hayfever symptoms can still persist and irritate you through the warmer part of the year.

But is it hay fever causing your dry eyes, or perhaps the antihistamines themselves? Or maybe there’s another cause that you hadn’t thought of? Dry eyes can be irritating and even cause serious problems, so it’s essential to know why you have them to know how they can be treated.

So, can hayfever cause dry eyes?

Hay fever symptoms

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to various seasonal natural elements, usually pollen from trees, grasses and weeds, that primarily affects the nose and eyes. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens, which are typically harmless substances. It can happen at any time during the year, and other substances such as mould spores and animal dander can cause the same reaction.

The three conditions, asthma, hay fever, and eczema, have some common risk factors and often coexist in individuals with allergic tendencies, known as an atopic triad. So if you have asthma, you may also have hayfever during the summer months.

Hayfever is often worse from Spring to Autumn, although it usually depends on the cause of the reaction and when certain flowers are pollinating. Hayfever is also typically worse during warm, humid and breezy weather as the pollen count is much higher.

Symptoms of hayfever include:

• Itchy, red or watery eyes.
• A runny or blocked nose.
• Sneezing and coughing.
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears.
• Sensitivity around your temples and forehead.
• Headaches.
• Feeling tired or drowsy.

As many people have both hayfever and asthma, you may also notice your breathing is more laboured when also suffering from hayfever symptoms.

Common causes of dry eyes

Dry eyes can have many different causes, including many environmental factors such as:

• Cold, dry winds.
• Smoky rooms.
• Air-conditioning and heating.

Many people also experience dry eyes after having travelled by aeroplane and sat looking at a computer screen for several hours, especially at close range. However, symptoms usually subside at least by the next day and don’t require any treatment.

Dry eyes can also be caused by certain medical conditions as well as a side effect of some medicines, and the symptoms can last much longer in these cases. Treating dry eyes is essential to prevent more serious eye health conditions, but it’s essential to find the root cause before treating the symptoms to ensure you have the best possible treatment.

Can hay fever cause dry eyes?

Hayfever can cause dry eyes, with many people with hayfever experiencing itchy, red, dry or watery eyes during the spring and summer months.

When a person with hayfever comes into contact with allergens, such as pollen, their immune system releases chemicals, including histamine. Histamine plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response and is responsible for many allergic symptoms, including itching, redness, and swelling.

Moreover, when the eyes are irritated, it can cause people to rub their eyes more often, attempting to relieve the itchy feeling and remove the dust or pollen particles that are causing the irritation. However, rubbing the eyes can scratch the corneal surface and further cause tear evaporation, causing the symptoms of dry eyes to worsen.

Another factor that may, in fact, cause dry eyes to worsen rather than relieve symptoms is antihistamines.

Antihistamines and dry eyes

Antihistamines, especially older ones, can lead to dry eyes by reducing the production of tears. Tear production is influenced by a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, and antihistamines can interfere with its activity, causing the production of tears to be reduced and increasing the evaporation of tears. This effect is more pronounced in first-generation antihistamines, while newer antihistamines are designed to have fewer side effects on tear production.

First-generation antihistamines are older medicines and much less common on the market than newer ones; however, Benadryl, or Diphenhydramine, and Chlorphenamine, usually sold as Piriton, are older antihistamines that are still used and can cause dry eyes. Newer (Second-generation) antihistamines that have fewer side effects and are less likely to cause dry eyes include Loratadine (Clarityn), Fexofenadine (Allegra or non-drowsy Piriton) and Desloratadine (Clarinex), although Desloratadine is less common in the UK.

If you experience dry eyes while taking antihistamines and your eyes are very irritated, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional, either your GP or an eye health specialist, for advice on changing medicines or finding other possible solutions.

Can you treat dry eyes?

If you are experiencing dry eyes due to hayfever, it is advisable to manage both the allergy symptoms and the dry eye condition, as if left untreated, dry eyes can cause great irritation to your eyes, worsening your vision and increasing the chances of developing an eye infection. Eye infections such as blepharitis and conjunctivitis must be treated quickly, as they don’t heal on their own and can even lead to blindness if not treated for a long time. You cannot, unfortunately, cure dry eyes permanently.

Dry eye symptoms can be treated and managed through various strategies, including the use of artificial tears or prescription eye drops, warm compresses, lifestyle changes such as drinking more water, and nutritional supplements. The most common and popular option to relieve symptoms of dry eyes is artificial tears, as they can be bought over the counter in pharmacies and lubricate your eyes, helping to clean them and re-moisturise them so you can blink comfortably and resume your normal activities.

In some cases, punctal plugs are an option; however, this surgery is only used for very severe cases of dry eyes. Consultation with an eye care professional is important for a thorough evaluation and to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on the underlying cause and severity of the dry eyes.

Can you treat hay fever?

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for hayfever, although antihistamines can work well to relieve some symptoms, and eye drops can help to prevent itchy eyes from becoming worse.

There are also numerous other methods you can try to reduce symptoms of hayfever, including:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
• Put Vaseline on your nostrils to trap pollen when outside.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses when outside to stop pollen from entering your eyes.
• Shower and change your clothes when re-entering your house to wash pollen off.
• Regularly vacuum and dust surfaces with a damp cloth.

Don’t:

• Spend too much time outside, especially in nature.
• Cut the grass or walk on the grass.
• Keep fresh flowers inside.
• Smoke or be in smoky rooms.
• Dry clothes outside as they can hold onto pollen.
• Let pets into the house where possible, as they can carry pollen inside.

Naturally, staying inside all summer can be depressing, so don’t go to extremes to prevent hayfever, as pollen is hard to avoid. However, try to limit your time outside as much as possible, and while you’re out, wear sunglasses that will cover your eyes well, take an antihistamine that won’t cause dry eyes, and use artificial tears to relieve symptoms of dry eyes.

Also, be careful when you’re inside, not to use the AC so much, as air conditioning can cause dry eyes as well as pollen when you have hayfever. So even though you may keep all the doors and windows shut to keep the pollen out, you may still be causing your dry eyes with the AC.

Need to see an eye specialist? Visit the Eye and Dental Clinic

Hayfever is one of the most common allergies in the UK, with around 49% of people suffering each spring and summer – and sometimes autumn too. But no one should have to suffer with no respite, and eye health is just as important as the rest of our health.

If you have symptoms of dry eyes and are suffering from hayfever, or think your antihistamines may be the cause of your woes, contact the team of eye experts at the Eye and Dental Clinic today to see how we can help you, read more information in our latest news, or simply book your appointment now!

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