“Introducing medication in these cases can be quite 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 eye disease, is completely inadvisable,” said SPO Secretary General Vítor Maduro.

Speaking to Lusa, the ophthalmologist and specialist in cornea and ocular surface diseases and transplants at the São José Local Health Unit in Lisbon warned of the possible increase in eye diseases given that, this year, the rain has delayed spring.

“The rain is stopping, which means that there is something emerging in the plants. When spring is at its peak, we may start to see much higher levels of pollen in the air with more frequent complaints,” he warned.

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

“This doesn’t happen overnight. There’s always a history, an allergic disease in childhood, in adolescence, or previous episodes. First of all, you have to be aware that these complaints are expected. Once you know this, you have to avoid contact with the allergens you know,” he explained.

Highlighting the importance of patients maintaining close contact with their ophthalmologist, Vítor Maduro recalled that family doctors also have a role in raising awareness on this topic.

“But above all, it is the patient who must take precautions,” he stressed.

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

Other measures, “often overlooked but with a significant impact on quality of life”, include avoiding rubbing the eyes, wearing sunglasses outdoors to reduce contact with allergens, and washing the eyes with saline solution to relieve symptoms.

“And if all these measures do not work, consult an ophthalmologist to introduce a medication that will resolve the situation,” added the secretary-general.

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