Sunglasses can reduce the amount of pollen that gets in the eye by deflecting the wind carrying it toward you. Close the windows and use the air conditioner. This can reduce pollen floating in the air both in the house and in the car. Apply cold compresses. A bag of frozen peas or a moist washcloth that has been place briefly in the freezer can reduce both itching and swelling when put on the eyes.
Several medications can also help people whose eyes bear the brunt of their seasonal allergies.
For people with mild symptoms oral antihistamines can prevent irritation of both the eye and the nose. For those with more severe allergic conjunctivitis, physicians can prescribe a number of medications that can be applied directly to the eye. Patients should consult their own physicians to learn what would work best for them. Patients should also remember to take these medications continuously throughout the pollen season rather than intermittently because most of them work best if taken before the allergen exposure, rather than after the eyes have already become irritated. National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado, is an independent non-sectarian institution known worldwide for the treatment of patients with respiratory, immune, and allergic disorders and for groundbreaking medical research.