1. medino.com /
2. Allergies & Hayfever /
3. FAQs /

What is the best eye drops for hay fever?

The best eye drops for hay fever depend on what you need: sodium cromoglicate (such as Opticrom) works best for prevention if you use it regularly throughout the hay fever season, while azelastine (Dymista) or antihistamine combinations like Otrivine Antistin provide faster relief if you need immediate comfort. For most people, starting with sodium cromoglicate is recommended, though some prefer the quicker action of antihistamine drops.

Key points:

• Sodium cromoglicate prevents allergic reactions by stopping histamine release but requires regular use over several days to work effectively
• Antihistamine eye drops like azelastine provide immediate relief from itching and redness without the waiting period
• Simple lubricant eye drops can soothe irritation by flushing pollen from your eyes
• If you wear contact lenses, use daily disposables and remove lenses before applying medicated drops, waiting at least 15 minutes before reinserting them

This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.