21.4.2025
About one in three Czechs suffers from some form of allergy, and half of them struggle with eye problems. Typical symptoms include itching, increased tearing, swollen eyelids and redness of the eyes. These problems often occur during periods of increased allergen exposure, for example in spring due to pollen, but can occur at any time of the year.
Eye surgeon Pavel Stodůlka points out, “The most common manifestation of eye allergy is conjunctivitis. Ocular allergy is most often associated with hay fever. Although conjunctivitis usually occurs during the spring season, it can occur all year round.”
Practical tips for symptom relief
- Eye protection: Wear sunglasses when outdoors to help reduce the amount of allergens that get into your eyes.
- Eyewash: If you experience irritation, rinse your eyes with cool water, which can provide immediate relief.
- Using eye drops: Eye drops containing antihistamines can effectively relieve acute allergy symptoms.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes: Eye movement can worsen symptoms and cause further irritation. ‘Allergy sufferers tend to rub their eyes when they feel itchy,’ warns Pavel Stodůlka. But this can make the problem worse, as rubbing the eyes can release even more irritants.”
When to see a doctor?
If symptoms persist or worsen, it is advisable to consult a doctor. The specialist may recommend other treatments such as the use of artificial tears or other appropriate therapies. Pavel Stodůlka recommends.
Allergies can be a barrier to eye surgery
“Active allergies can be a reason why we have to refuse some patients who want to undergo laser diopter removal and postpone the procedure during the pre-operative examination. This is not an exceptional situation. One of the reasons why it is not advisable to perform the procedure during a period of active allergy is that the patient may even be measured with a different diopter than the one they actually have. Therefore, we recommend that these patients postpone the procedure to a period when the allergens are not active,” concluded Pavel Stodůlka.
