Look after your eyes and reduce the impact of hay fever
Hay fever can cause considerable discomfort for your eyes. If you suffer from hay fever, your optometrist can advise on how to reduce your symptoms and make things a little more bearable during the spring and summer.
The most common group of eye drops used to help relieve the effects of hay fever are called ‘mast cell stabilisers’. These are very effective and safe for those with hay fever symptoms that affect the eyes. However, it can take five to 14 days of use before they are most effective, so it’s important to start using these drops before your allergy kicks in.
The pollen season includes three main phases. Knowing which pollen triggers your allergy can help you to take measures to reduce symptoms. You can then take drops ahead of the period.
Pollen type | Main release period | Peak | |
Tree | Hazel (Corylus) | January – mid April | mid February – mid March |
Yew (Taxus) | January – mid April | end February – end March | |
Alder (Alnus) | January – April | mid February – beginning of April | |
Elm (Ulmus) | February – April | March – beginning of April | |
Willow (Salix) | February -beginning of May | beginning of March – mid April | |
Poplar (Populus) | mid March – beginning of May | end March – beginning of April | |
Birch (Betula) | March – mid June | end March – mid May | |
Ash (Fraxinus) | March – end May | April – beginning of May | |
Plane (Plantanus) | March – May | mid March – mid April | |
Oak (Quercus) | end March – mid June | end April – beginning of June | |
Pine (Pinus) | beginning of April – end July | beginning of May – end June | |
Lime (Tilia) | June – beginning of August | mid June – mid July | |
Grass | Grass (Poaceae) | May – mid September | June – July |
Weed | Dock (Rumex) | end May – beginning of August | end June – end July |
Mugwort (Artemisia) | end June – mid September | end July – mid August | |
Nettle (Urtica) | May – end September | end June – beginning of August | |
Oilseed rape (Brassica Napus) | end March – end July | beginning of May – June | |
Plantain (Plantago) | April – August | June – mid July |
Once you have identified the time period in which you need to take your drops, it’s important to remember: