**Eye Washing May Relieve Hay Fever Symptoms, Large-Scale Survey Finds**
*Medical Xpress / Scientific Reports | November 24, 2025*
*By Krystal Kasal, Ken Nagino et al*
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is the condition responsible for seasonal allergies and allergic reactions to various environmental allergens. A new study presents findings from a large-scale survey of hay fever sufferers, comparing symptom severity between those who use eye washing as a preventative measure and those who do not.
While some eyewashes containing preservatives like benzalkonium chloride have been reported to exacerbate certain eye diseases, preservative-free eyewashes generally demonstrate a good safety profile and are recommended for reducing symptoms associated with allergic conjunctival diseases. However, prior to this study, robust research specifically assessing eyewash use for hay fever was limited.
To further evaluate this option, the research team conducted an extensive analysis using data collected through AllerSearch, a smartphone application designed to gather information on allergy sufferers. The survey included questions about preventive behaviors, subjective symptoms, environmental factors, and quality of life.
A total of 476 participants with hay fever completed the survey, with 71 reporting regular eye washing. The researchers adjusted the results for age, sex, comorbidities, other preventive behaviors excluding eye washing, and pollen levels using multivariate regression and mixed-effects models.
According to the analysis, hay fever sufferers who practiced eye washing experienced significantly milder ocular symptoms, including reduced eye itching, tearing, and overall ocular discomfort. Additionally, these individuals reported more symptom-free days and better quality of life (QoL) scores based on their self-assessments.
Importantly, the survey also assessed dry eye disease symptoms and found no worsening in either group, indicating that eye washing did not negatively affect dry eye conditions.
This study provides valuable evidence supporting eye washing as a simple, safe, and effective strategy for managing hay fever symptoms, particularly for ocular discomfort.
*Read more at Medical Xpress.*
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**Topics:** Health / Medicine
**Keywords:** Hay fever, allergic rhinitis, eye washing, allergic conjunctival disease, quality of life
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*Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Medical Xpress or its affiliates.*
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