Every now and then, I get some really informative comments here on Allergizer that warrants to be re-posted just so it can reach out many more readers. This one is from Lucia:

Hi Ruth,

I have had the same problem this summer for the first time in my life. In the past the eye symptoms were always connected to sneezing, etc, which only lasted thru the grass pollenization season and ended by July. This year suddenly it's all summer long (!) and mostly just the eyes. A depressing word of caution about Claritin: new studies are showing that anti-histimines actually make allergies worse! (see: http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080111fullnews.2008.436.html)

One thing that helps a lot is to wash your face and be sure to get the soap or cleanser on the area around your eyes and even your eyelashes. It does sting a bit, but just rinse well with water! I find that getting some of the lather right onto the eyelashes really makes a difference, and that is usually accompanied by a slight sting. I suppose that this is getting rid of the grains of pollen or whatever sticking to your lashes and the skin around the eyes that are causing the allergy. That generally will take a way the itchiness for several hours. I also find that frequent showers and washing my hair more frequently seems to help. Perhaps pollen sticks to the hair and then finds its way to the eyes?

If I also have itchy nose/nasal symptoms, I combine that with a natural nose spray containing sucrose, or I just do a flush with saline water or even just warm tap water if I'm desperate ('breathe' the water slightly into your nose, then blow out repeating several times), to get rid of the itchy nose and sneezing. (Again, the medicated nose sprays have been shown to cause tolerance and worsening of symptom.)

There's a new product by Zyrtec (the makers of anti-histimin allergy pills) called Zyrtec Itchy Eye - I don't know if it also contains anti-histimines, or if it does, whether or not it would have the same effect of worsening allergies, since it's only being applied to the eye, not taken systemically. Best of luck!!

Thanks, Lucia, for the comment, and for reminding us that sometimes we can ease our symptoms by doing simple steps like washing the eyelashes and hair, and flushing the nose. Afterall, isn't that the basic solution to easing allergies: to remove the triggers?

The Nature article tackles a different antihistamine called Clemastine, but it warns us of the possible adverse effects of anithistamine on the very ailment it's supposed to be against. The study was also a trial on mice and bee venom, and who knows if the data translates to humans, but the next time the itchies get to me, I'll definitely try other methods before reaching for the pill!