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.