Why do eyes get itchier in the summer? And what you can do about it.

Why do eyes get itchier in the summer?

As a result of allergies

Hayfever can cause havoc with the eyes especially between late March and September, when pollen counts are at their peak. Your immune system tries to fight off harmful foreign bodies, but can over-react to allergens such as pollen, dust and animal dander.

This increases swelling and inflammation and can give rise to sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy or watery eyes.

As a result of dehydration

Dehydration is another big. This can happen all year round but can creep up more intensively in the summer. If your body becomes dehydrated, it will conserve water for more essential functions, so it won't be able to produce the tears you need to lubricate your eyes and keeping them clean.

That means dry eye syndrome (not making enough tears) could well be responsible for your itchy eyes in summer. You should be aiming to drink at least 1.5 - 2 litres of water every day to keep your body healthy but you may need to drink more than this if you are sweating a lot more in the summer heat, especially if you are active.

Remember, dehydration can be at the root of many nasty health problems - drinking water can help to alleviate all sorts of conditions, from constipation to poor skin. So, upping water intake can result in benefits being felt all over your body, not just the eyes! It is a very simple and cost-effective tip, but one which often yields maximum results.

As a result of air-conditioning

Another culprit responsible for itchy eyes during summertime is air-con. As working in offices and travelling starts to resume once more, too much exposure to air-conditioning can dry out eyes, leaving them itchy and irritated. Although air-conditioning can in some cases be necessary during the warmer months, it can easily dry out the air as well as our eyes.

Getting into the habit of opening windows to allow fresh air to circulate instead of recycling dry air with aircon, can help; although, if you're prone to hayfever, make sure to take any necessary precautions to avoid pollen irritating your eyes. It can be a delicate balance in order to keep cool whilst retaining happy eyes.

As a result of swimming

Although not many of us have had the option to go swimming much recently, it can be a common source of irritation for eyes come the summer months. It's very important to look after your eyes while swimming, whether it's in a chlorinated pool or in the sea.

If you swim without goggles, you risk exposing the conjunctiva (that thin, transparent layer which covers and protects your eye) to chemicals such as chlorine. This can cause the protective layer to become inflamed and may lead to symptoms like itching and burning. Even if you're swimming in the sea or a saltwater pool, forgoing your goggles can mean that bacteria from the water can find their way into your eyes and cause similar symptoms.

What can help?

Whilst always targeting any underlying issues first, for example with the help of Pollinosan Hayfever tablets when it comes to hayfever or allergic rhinitis, sometimes our eyes just need a little bit of extra care and attention, and that's where good quality Eye Drops come in.

Made with Euphrasia and hyaluronic eyes, A.Vogel Eye Drops could be the answer for helping to soothe irritated eyes:

Euphrasia contributes to the thickness of the Eye Drops. The way these drops dispense from the dropper tip helps the drop spreads out on the eye surface. This is just as a real tear does. Euphrasia also contains tannins that help reduce inflammation in the eye, plus caffeic acid that acts as an antiseptic for eye tissue.

Hyaluronic enhances hydration of the corneal surface helping to mimic the natural tear film.

Some drops contain preservatives to counter bacteria, and these are not suitable for people who need to use eye drops frequently because the preservative risks gradually damaging the eye. The A.Vogel Eye Drops bottle is designed to be sterile so avoids the need for preservatives, ensuring that it can be used continuously and intensively.

 A.Vogel Eye Drops are also suitable for contact lens wearers.