26 May Ophthalmologists warn of the risk of self-medication in times of eye allergies

Eye diseases may increase due to the ‘spring delay’ caused by the rain. Allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that protects the white part of the eye, is one of the most common.

in www.observador.pt – 13 March, 2025

The Portuguese Ophthalmological Society (SPO) warned on Tuesday of the risk of self-medication due to the possible increase in eye allergies in a year of late spring, which could bring out a lot of pollen.

‘The introduction of medication in these cases can be very harmful, particularly the use of cortisone drops without medical supervision, which has a very high risk. Self-medication in allergic conjunctivitis, as in other types of ophthalmological disease, is completely inadvisable,’ said the SPO’s secretary general, Vítor Maduro.

To Lusa, the ophthalmologist and specialist in cornea and ocular surface diseases and transplants at Unidade Local de Saúde São José in Lisbon, warned of the possible increase in eye diseases given that the rain this year has delayed spring.

‘The rain is stopping, which means there’s something brewing in the plants. In spring when it’s at its peak, we could start to have much higher pollen counts in the air with more frequent complaints,’ he warned.

Symptoms of eye diseases include itchy eyes, red eyes, frequent tearing, a foreign body sensation in the eyes, increased sensitivity to light, swollen eyelids and a feeling of sand.

One of the most common eye diseases in spring is allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane that protects the white part of the eyes, the inside of the eyelids.

‘It doesn’t come on overnight. There’s always a history behind it, an allergic illness in childhood, in adolescence, having had previous episodes. Firstly, you must be aware that you can expect to have these complaints. Once you know that, you have to avoid contact with the allergens you know about,’ he said.

Emphasising the importance of patients working closely with their ophthalmologist, Vítor Maduro pointed out that family doctors also have a role to play in publicising this issue. ‘But above all it’s the patient who must take precautions,’ he emphasised.

The SPO recommends that those living in areas with high or very high pollen levels keep their windows closed and use cold water compresses or artificial tears to relieve symptoms.

Other measures, ‘often undervalued but with a significant impact on quality of life’, are to avoid rubbing the eyes, wear sunglasses outdoors to reduce contact with allergens, and rinse the eyes with saline solution to relieve symptoms.

‘And if all these measures don’t work, consult an ophthalmologist for the introduction of medication that will resolve the situation,’ added the secretary-general.

The concentration of pollen in the air tends to increase between April and June.