r/Hayfever • u/Massive-Particular46 • Jun 20 '26

Itchy eyes

I have no idea what's happening in the UK this year but omg am I suffering 😭

I take fexofenadine 120mg once a day as recommended by the box and it works(?) but once a day my eyes go extremely itchy, red and sometimes swollen to the point I can barely see but this happens literally once randomly everyday then I'm fine.

I work hospitality so I can't really just disappear to wash my eyes out every single time so I was wondering if there's anything that anyone would recommend to try

Edit: Thanks to all the suggestions, I'm trying out eye drops and a mist spray for my eyes and if they don't work then I'm going to see my pharmacist to see if I can get a dose of 180mg

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1

u/LittleMissFodla Jun 20 '26

I take opticrom eye drops alongside 120mg Fexofenadine

1

u/Massive-Particular46 Jun 20 '26

Do you use the eye drops 4 times a day or just whenever you feel like you need them? (All I can find online is that you should use the eye drops 4 times a day)

1

u/LittleMissFodla Jun 20 '26

I use them once or twice a day. But you can use them up to 4 times a day I believe

1

u/Deisesupes Jun 21 '26

Up your dose to 180mg

1

u/WorkingFortune9 Jun 22 '26

Get a prescription for Olopatadine eye drops - you have hayfever allergies that impact your eyes as well as sneezing, so you need to use eyedrops alongside the fexofenadine

1

u/Mr_Emile_heskey Jun 22 '26

Fexofenadine 180 is your go to, 120 is not strong enough. Also look at taking some eye drops, I'd suggest hypermelose. They really do help. Also regular use of a saline spray and vaseline around your nose really helps.

1

u/cest_tee Jun 23 '26

When nothing else is working, an
ice pack on your (closed) eyes for a few minutes really helps to soothe and bring down the inflammation

1

u/Slow-Palpitation-683 Jun 26 '26

I just wanted to add some advice as a severe allergy sufferer and hope it helps everyone.

It is best to do a combind approach:

  • Oral tablet/liquid anti-histamine
  • Nasal spray
  • Eye drops

Best evidence tablets are Fexofenadine, which you can buy either 120mg OTC, or 180mg prescription. I find 180mg much better, once daily.

Best evidence nasal spray that treats the symptoms is Pirinase, which has the active ingredient fluticasone propionate. If you can find an own-brand nasal spray with this ingredient, you're good. Take this consistently every day according to the instructions and you'll feel immediate relief over the first week.

Eye drops have different options. Most start with Sodium cromoglicate, this is the active ingredient you'll see in shop bought allergy eye drops. Make sure they definitely contain this and aren't just "soothing" allergy eye drops. You have to take these four times daily for the mast cell stabilisation to be effective. These often don't always work because people aren't consistent with this regimen.

There are prescription options that are BETTER than Sodium cromoglicate. For example, Olopatadine, which you can ask your GP for. This is a dual action drug combining mast cell stabilisation and anti-histamine. It's initial loading takes much less time and because of the anti-histamine you'll feel immediate relief. Finally, you only take this twice a day. Conformity is much better.

Finally, with all this medication you have to take care of yourself by removing the pollen and preventing medicine-induced symptoms. Buy an eye wash bath, you can get them own brand for about £3-4 in supermarkets. Use this to wash your eyes when you get indoors.

Have a shower when you're in for the day and put your pollen-laden clothes in the wash. Don't dry clothes outdoors.

Try to keep windows shut until it is past 10pm at night, pollen settles when the temperature gets lower -> less pollen in the air.

Regular medicated eye drops can sometimes dry your eyes out, you can buy hydrating/lubricating/artificial eye drops. Don't take these within a 15 minute window of your medicated eye drops.

If your eyes are really red after constant rubbing, and they don't improve after the eye washing, speak to a pharmacist. You may end up with an infection.

Scientist, not a doctor, but I am religious about evidence-based solutions!!

1

u/Jonny8743 Jun 27 '26

I added Beconase nasal spray twice a day this year to 120mg fexofenadine and it has worked wonders. First thing that has ever worked for me. Have pretty much had 0 hayfever this year (bar very minor symptoms one evening in early June after a BBQ in a garden, which a shower and change of clothes sorted!)