Eye Allergies: Are They Becoming All Too Common?

Pharmacist, Noel Wicks, explores the rise in eye allergies

Watery, itchy eyes? You are certainly not alone. Environmental and seasonal allergies are becoming an increasing concern with rising pollen levels and air pollution among the key contributing factors – and that means more frequent and more intense eye irritation.


During spring and summer, hay fever is a common allergy, with research¹ suggesting that up to 49% of the UK population report experiencing hay fever symptoms. And a study² has shown that hay fever has tripled over the last 20 years.

Why are eye allergies on the increase?

Air pollution and pollen are key culprits. Let's take a closer look:

The pollen season now goes beyond the late spring and summer months.⁵ It is starting earlier, finishing later and becoming more intense – and people now start to notice itchy eyes starting as early as the month of March.⁶

 

Due to changes in the climate, pollen spores are being released from trees, grasses, plants, flowers and weeds much earlier in the year, and this also means there is a greater concentration of pollen floating around.⁷

Air Pollution

Air pollutants surround us. Particles so tiny we can’t see them.³ Traffic and industry contribute to outdoor air pollutants, with mould, dust mites and irritants from cleaning products, paint, pet dander and even new furniture contributing to indoor pollutants.⁴

These two key elements can be combined with other triggers, such as warmer temperatures, UV and sunlight, dehydration, swimming pool chemicals, and sleep problems, creating potential havoc for our eyes.⁸

What's the impact on the eyes?

When allergens such as pollen, dust or pollution particles come into contact with the eyes, they trigger the immune system to release histamine.⁹ The result? The familiar symptoms of itching, redness and excessive watering.

Allergies can trigger eye conditions like allergic conjunctivitis, caused by allergens such as pollen, pollution, pet fur and dust mites.¹⁰ It causes redness, itching and watery eyes due to inflammation of the conjunctiva. The blood vessels of the sclera (the white of the eye) become dilated, giving us that red-eyed appearance.¹¹ The eyes may also feel gritty, itchy, sticky, burning or be watering more than usual.¹²

Styes are small, painful lumps on or inside the eyelid or around the eye. The skin around the stye may be swollen and red, and the stye may be filled with yellow pus.¹³ Styes are common, and they can take up to two weeks to clear.¹⁴ Allergies are known risk factors for styes,¹⁵ and people tend to get more styes during allergy season.¹⁶ With the experience of itchy eye symptoms, it can feel impossible not to rub them.

Blepharitis is a common eye condition, estimated to account for around 5% of eye-health-related GP visits.¹⁷ This condition causes inflammation of the eyelids. This can either be at the base of the eyelid, which can be caused by bacteria like staphylococcal blepharitis or seborrhoeic disorder (sometimes noted as seborrhoeic dermatitis)¹⁸ or an inflammation of the meibomian glands, which help to produce tears.¹⁹


Symptoms may include soreness, itching, a gritty feeling, flakes, or crusts around the roots of the eyelashes and eyelashes sticking together in the morning when you wake up.⁵

GoldenEye®: Helping To Support Your Eyes:

GoldenEye® offers a range of treatments for when eye infections happen and all handy self-care solutions for your first aid kit at home.

GoldenEye® Eye Drops

help to soothe and treat.

They contain propamidine isethionate, which works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying, which controls the numbers of bacteria causing an infection.²⁰ These eye drops also have antifungal properties.²¹

Always read the label.

GoldenEye® Eye Ointment

is for conjunctivitis (red eye), styes and blepharitis (infection of the lid margins and eye follicles). It contains dibrompropamidine isethionate and antiseptics (not antibiotics), which help to stop bacteria from growing and multiplying.


Always read the label.

GoldenEye® Antibiotic Eye Ointment

is intended for acute bacterial conjunctivitis in adults and children aged 2 years and over and contains the antibiotic chloramphenicol. It should be reserved for acute infections to limit the spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics (antibiotic resistance).


Available from Boots.com


Always read the label.

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Date of Preparation: July 2026    Approval Code: GOL/26/12

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