Tissues at the ready: SUPER ALLERGIES 'to hit Britain THIS summer'
A WAVE of 'super allergies' is set to hit Britain this summer hitting a record one in four sufferers, according to new research.
A wave of 'super allergies' is set to hit Britain this summer
Warmer average temperatures and pollution also mean pollen and other problems that were once just restricted to spring and summer can now last up to NINE months.
New plants species, such as ragweed, add to the pollen from grass and trees that already cause itchy eyes and sneezing.
And pollution traps that pollen in the air for longer so it affects more people, said a report by eye care brand Bausch and Lomb's Biotrue eyelid wipes.
It also means the 'hayfever' season can now start with alder trees releasing pollen in January and continue until the last of the nettle pollen disappears in September.
But worse, ragweed releases a 'super allergen', which can be even more irritating and affect many who are not usually sufferers of hayfever.
Hay Fever - Express Health
New plants species add to the pollen from grass and trees that already cause itchy eyes and sneezing
Allergies have a major impact on daily life
A survey of 2,000 adults by Bausch and Lomb's Biotrue wipes found 26 per cent suffer from seasonal allergies that give them red or itchy eyes.
Of these, half are affected by common hayfever causes such as pollen from trees and plants while others feel it is dust in the air that affects them.
Francesca Marchetti, an optometrist and advisor to WINK, an independent eye-care panel, said rubbing eyes just makes them work.
26 per cent of adults suffer from seasonal allergies that give them red or itchy eyes
Warmer average temperatures and pollution means pollen and other problems can last up to nine months
She said: “I see more people who really struggle with itchy, irritated eyes brought on by hay fever and other allergies which have a major impact on daily life.
“If your eyes feel gritty and itchy there is a constant temptation to rub at them, which is the worst thing you can do.
“Our eyelashes are designed to catch irritants and prevent them reaching the surface of the eye, but rubbing your eyes will simply push pollen into the eye.”