Posted on 11/29/2025 5:14:38 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is the condition responsible for seasonal allergies or allergic reactions to other environmental allergens.
A new study describes a large-scale survey of hay fever sufferers, comparing those who use eye washing as a preventative measure. The study reports that those using eyewash experience improved symptoms.
While eyewashes containing benzalkonium chloride as a preservative have been shown to exacerbate certain eye diseases, a preservative-free eyewash has a generally good safety profile and is endorsed for reducing symptoms of allergic conjunctival diseases. However, robust research was lacking on the use of eyewash for hay fever.
So, to further assess this option, the team decided to conduct a large-scale analysis looking at the relationship between eyewash use and hay fever symptoms based on surveys conducted on a smartphone app called AllerSearch. The survey included questions about preventive behaviors, subjective symptoms, environmental data and quality of life.
In total, there were 476 participants with hay fever, of which 71 practiced eye washing. The results were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, non-eye washing preventive behaviors and pollen levels using multivariate regression and mixed-effects models.
According to the team's analysis, hay fever sufferers who engaged in eye washing experienced significantly milder ocular symptoms, including eye itching, tearing and total ocular symptoms. They also had overall more symptom-free days than those that did not wash their eyes and better quality of life (QoL) scores, according to their self-reported assessments.
The survey also included questions about dry eye disease symptoms, which did not worsen for either group.
The team notes that the eyewash group did still experience a slight worsening of symptoms during hay fever season, but that the magnitude of the alleviation of symptoms with eye washing was still greater than the slight change during hay fever season.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“According to the team's analysis, hay fever sufferers who engaged in eye washing experienced significantly milder ocular symptoms, including eye itching, tearing and total ocular symptoms. They also had overall more symptom-free days than those that did not wash their eyes and better quality of life (QoL) scores…”
Washing eyes with American Biotics nano silver liquid helps allergies.
I use cheap saline nose drops to seriously reduce pollen allergies causing clogged sinuses. Clogged sinuses get infected by cold virus causing post nasal drip in throat. That results in lung infection and cough. Nasal drops are less than $3 at Walmart.
Makes sense to me. I have suffered with nearly constant ‘hay-fever type allergies’ for 20+ years. And I noticed recently that when I use a “Wet-Wipe” to wash my face, I feel an immediate and distinct improvement, albeit very temporary..
And benzalkonium chloride is the ‘Active Ingredient’ in “Wet Wipes”.
At first, I felt some trepidation in getting that stuff in my eyes, but I guess not only is it safe... it might be actually beneficial.
Thanks for the ping.
I have a glass eyecup and use often. Another thing people probably don’t know about is that putting drops of pure food grade rosewater in the eyes is anti-bacterial and clears the eyes, helping vision. It’s an Ayurvedic remedy. I buy rosewater on Amazon, link upon request. I also use for skin care.
...when wags post pics of Helen Thomas or any number of Leftist women
whose inner hatred for all that is good finds it's way to their surface.
Seriously though, I thought I had an eye problem for years until cigarette
smoking became far less popular. Sometimes things are simple.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I can’t do that. Can’t use a Neti Pot, either - it feels like I’m being waterboarded - though many people swear by them.
As I said, so far nothing serious, just general eye itches when the Ragweed is in bloom.
When was young (50s), my grandmother, who had come over from Poland in the early 30s, had an eyewash cup. It had a little spoon (like a coke spoon might be) and she would put a little salt and baking powder in warm water, then lean forward, put the cup to her eye, then turn her face up to let it cleanse the eye. It turns out it isn’t a lost art - I see Amazon sells them - just not fancy porcelain like Grandma had.
I have been using Castor oil on outside of both eyelids, upper and lower, left and right, before bed. It’s been a few months now, and I notice a very slight improvement in my weak eye. The oil penetrates the eyelids and everything under it.
I have allergies to house dust, cool weather mold, ragweed, and cigarette smoke, so I have nasal congestion and puffy under eye area problems almost always. I can keep the nasal congestion under control by using 6 to 8 grams a day of Vitamin C. One or 2 grams morning and bedtime, and 1 or 2 during the day anytime my nose gets stuffed up or drippy. Always before I stir up dust by housecleaning. However the Vitamin C has no effect on the puffy under eye issue. Has anyone successfully tried that cream advertised on TV that makes your puffiness disappear when applied lightly to the skin under the eye?
“Has anyone successfully tried that cream advertised on TV that makes your puffiness disappear when applied lightly to the skin under the eye?”
You may thing I’m joking, but I’m not - before you pay big money for what they’re selling, buy a tube of good old ‘Preparation H’ and use that on under eye puffiness. Test on a small area, though; it can irritate some people. (You won’t go blind or anything.)
Works like a charm and no one needs to know. It’s seriously the SAME ingredients. This is an old trick I learned from a friend that was a News Anchor and always had to look good no matter what she did the night before, LOL!
Other solutions: Cold compresses on your eyes, or an eye cream that has caffeine in it. (Never tried that.)
The ads I have seen are $15, I wonder how much Prep H costs. Also does Prep H say it is a silicate substance like the ad does? Cold compresses have NOT worked for me, and I never heard of an eye cream with caffeine. I’ll be in a drug store in a few days so will look at Prep H. It should not sting much given the usual location of use. ;-) Thanks
Tender tissue IS tender tissue, LOL!
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