Eye washing may ease hay fever ocular symptoms and improve quality of life

Medical Xpress / Scientific Reports ^ | Nov. 24, 2025 | Krystal Kasal / Ken Nagino et al

[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.

---

TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:

[ConservativeMind]

Important quite:

“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…”

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

[stars & stripes forever]

Washing eyes with American Biotics nano silver liquid helps allergies.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Makes total sense to wash that EVIL pollen out of your eyes. I have allergies, mostly Ragweed late in the season, but they're not severe enough to require medical attention. I do go through a LOT of eye drops, though!

[Bobbyvotes]

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.

[LegendHasIt]

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.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[little jeremiah]

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.