A joint public health project involving NHS Direct and the Health Protection Agency has revealed that a higher than expected number of people between the ages of 5 and 44 are suffering from eye problems. In the week ending 24 April, figures show that NHS Direct was receiving on average 150 calls a day from people with these hay symptoms, which is a rise of all calls to NHS Direct from 0.7% to 1.5%. The most likely cause of this is increased pollen from trees like the Silver Birch, Oak and Plane trees brought on by the recent warm sunny weather. Commenting on this Helen Young, Executive Clinical Director/Chief Nurse for NHS Direct said: "It's unusual to see this number of people calling us this early in the year with hay fever symptoms. June and July is the usual time when people are suffering from an allergic reaction to pollen from grasses. Our figures show that the most affected group is 5 - 14 year old children. "It's impossible to avoid pollen completely, but there are some sensible precautions that sufferers can take to ease the symptoms: -- stay indoors and keeping the windows shut - especially in the evening when the pollen count is usually highest; -- if you can't avoid going outside, wearing wrap around sunglasses can help to keep the pollen out of your eyes; -- bathing the eyes with plain cold water can ease the itching or soreness but wash your hands first. "If people want some medication to treat the symptoms then our advice to sufferers is to visit your local chemist for advice on the best over the counter hay fever remedies and that if the symptoms persist or get progressively worse to go to your GP for further advice." NHS Direct and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have been collaborating to monitor changes in public illness since September 2001. NHS Direct is at the forefront of 24 hour health care delivering telephone and e-health information services day and night direct to the public -- NHS Direct provides health information and advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. -- NHS Direct handles around 6.5 million telephone calls a year -- The NHS Direct website