With the good weather, not only the sun and the flowers are coming back.
Pollens are also coming back, to the delight of nature, but to the anguish of people who are sensitive or even allergic to them.
The return of pollens is thus synonymous for some with allergic reactions such as conjunctivitis, and finding soothing solutions quickly becomes a major objective.
Between targeted ophthalmic preparations, grandmother's remedies, trendy technology such as air purifiers or immunotherapy, the solutions are both numerous and varied.
Seasonal conjunctivitis: definition
One of the common reactions to the return of pollens is the allergic reaction.
Seasonal conjunctivitis is defined as an allergic reaction of the eyes that occurs when spring arrives, at least when pollens are around.
It is a kind of hypersensitivity, characterised by dry eyes, irritated eyes, itching, swollen eyelids, and watery eyes.
Ophthalmic solutions, the essentials
The best solution is to avoid contact with the allergens concerned, i.e. pollens, as much as possible. However, this is not always possible, and it is then that tricks must be found to alleviate the allergic symptoms.
Ophthalmic solutions are an absolute must.
Developed in laboratoires on the basis of careful scientific studies, they have been specially designed to target allergies and act effectively on all the resulting allergic symptoms.
Innoxa Laboratories are among the leaders in this field. For example, they have developed a eye spray which allows to relieve these symptoms easily, by simply spraying the spray on dry and tired eyes. This type of eye spray is also effective on red and particularly irritated eyes.
Innoxa eye sprays have a triple action. They moisturize, lubricate and refresh your precious eyes.
Another example is eye drops, which are a quick and very targeted method of relieving discomfort. Thanks to the subtle combination of floral waters and trehalose, the action of the eye drops is directly directed towards the treatment of irritation and dryness of the eyes, soothing them within a few minutes. Then, the methylene blue comes to embellish your eyes with a whitening effect for the white of the eye.
Grandmother's remedies to relieve her eyes
In addition to modern ophthalmic solutions, it is true that grandmother's remedies are still a safe bet.
One example is chamomile compresses, which soothe irritated eyes and prevent the eyes from swelling. They should be used preventively, by applying them to your eyes every night before going to bed.
Another tip is the mallow poultice, designed to soothe occasional, seasonal conjunctivitis. From a tablespoon of mallow flowers and a bowl of water, boil the whole and let it infuse for about 10 minutes. Then apply the wet flowers directly to your eyes, leaving them on for about 20 minutes.
The air purifier trend
Air purifiers are a real trend and are present in more and more homes. They require a certain financial investment, but their effectiveness is well proven.
They act as filters, removing any particles that may disturb breathing or irritate the eyes. In times of pollen explosion in the air, having an air purifier at home is an expensive but very effective solution.
To accompany the functionality of the air purifier, it is also recommended that you keep your doors and windows as closed as possible. This will prevent pollen particles from entering your home and causing you to experience allergic reactions throughout the day and night.
Is desensitisation a really effective solution?
The ultimate but sometimes unavoidable method: desensitisation.
Desensitisation, otherwise known as immunotherapy, is carried out in the form of sublingual tablets containing high doses of pollen. These tablets will retrain your immune system to become tolerant to pollens.
Beyond the desensitisation method, treatment of pollen allergies is usually treated with anti-histamine drugs to block the inflammatory reaction that causes the symptoms. Other treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids may be prescribed.
It is useful to specify that desensitisation is a so-called "second-line" treatment, i.e. it should only be considered if the first treatments have proved ineffective, or in the case of certain forms of intolerance. For example, it is possible to suffer from drowsiness when taking anti-histamines.
Ideally, desensitisation should start at least 4 months before the pollen season to give the body time to get used to it. It can be applied to children from the age of 5, and lasts for many months.