How to protect your peepers and safeguard your sight this National Eye Health Week
If you’ve spent the summer fending off hay fever, you’ll be more than aware of the impact pollen can have on eye health. But there are many more allergens that can wreak havoc with our vision – and chances are you’re living with them.
Pharmacist Sultan Dajani, adviser to GoldenEye, says, ‘When allergens affect the eyes, the body releases histamine and blood vessels in the conjunctiva (the lining of the eye) enlarge and swell. This will leave eyes looking puffy and red, feeling itchy, and they may become more watery.
‘Medically, this type of eye allergic reaction is known as allergic conjunctivitis. It’s important to treat and manage these eye symptoms and not simply overlook them. Eye conditions to be aware of are conjunctivitis, styes and blepharitis.’
Here, Sultan talks us through the common culprits and reveals more about the conditions they could cause.
Pollen
‘Hay fever is the most common allergy in the UK, affecting millions throughout the summer and into early autumn,’ notes Sultan. ‘It is usually worse between late March and the end of September, when pollen counts are highest and linger. However, the pollen season is getting longer.’
A study found the pollen season increased by 20 days and the pollen concentration by 21% between 1990 and 2018. Sufferers may be allergic to tree, grass or weed pollen – or a combination of all these pollens.
Dust and dust mites
‘Dust mites are probably the most common trigger of year-round allergies as well as challenges like asthma,’ says Sultan.
Each dust mite only measures about 0.3mm long – too small to see with your eyes alone, but under a microscope they look like white bugs with eight legs.
‘Those who are not allergic to dust mites are completely oblivious to their presence,’ explains Sultan. ‘However, for those who are allergic, more time indoors in autumn may mean more time sniffing, sneezing, itching and generally feeling under the weather.’
Pollution
The World Health Organization has said that air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health. When walking outside, we are confronted with pollution from road traffic and industry – including particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2).
These outdoor allergens can leave the eyes itchy, watery, gritty and red. In addition, it can leave the eye sensitive to other elements such as wind and sunlight.
Pets
Our furry friends could be another cause of eye irritation, with pet dander a key trigger of allergic eye conditions.
Sultan says, ‘Like pollen, this results in the body releasing histamine to fight the allergen, which then can end up in eyes feeling red and itchy as well as a runny nose and sneezing.’
Mould
Mould, already well-known as a trigger for asthma, can also trigger eye-related symptoms.
Sultan notes, ‘When mould releases spores into the air and they come into contact with us, either on the skin or by entering the nose, they cause allergic reactions which can result in itchy eyes.’