Guard eyes from infections in summer & monsoon

Let’s take a look at various eye problems and infections that you should be careful about during heat and rain: Conjunctivitis: This is one of the most common eye problems encountered during the monsoon season. It spreads if one comes in contact with a person who has conjunctivitis.

The condition is caused due to virus, bacteria or chlamydia, but it can also be caused due to expired eye cosmecs, contact lens cleaning solutions, bleach in swimming pools, etc.

Conjunctivitis generally spreads by a touch (direct or indirect), therefore, make sure you do not share towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, pillow covers, etc, with the patient. So, if you have pink eyes, do not panic. Seek a proper treatment by an eye specialist and maintain personal hygiene like washing hands frequently.

 Dry Eye: In summer most of us spend our time in an air conditioner environment — be it home, office or car. But temperature changed due to AC is said to be a leading cause of Dry Eye Syndrome. As a result, individuals may feel grimness, irritation, pain, redness or watery eyes.

However, Dry Eye can also be caused due to other factors such as Diabetes, Thyroid, Vitamin A deficiency, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tear Gland Damage, etc. Whatever may be the cause, studies reveal that environmental factors such as weather trigger allergies can play a crucial role in increasing the risk of these conditions.

Timely diagnosis and treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome is very important as otherwise patients might develop corneal surface disorders such as abrasion, corneal ulcer or severe

Stye: It is usually caused due to clogged oil gland and bacteria which live on the skin surface of the eyelid. It can cause swelling in one or both eyelids, redness and is a painful

The easiest way to prevent Stye is by maintaining eye hygiene. Gently exfoliate the eyelids or gently rub the eyelids to get rid of dead cells. Besides, avoid using expired cosmecs, dirty towels and contaminated hands.

Digital Eye Strain: Summer for children means summer holidays, summer camps and unlimited access to digital devices. However, nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak has let kids with very limited choices.

Though online classes, video chats with friends, gaming and watching TV shows have become a new norm for kids, prolonged use of digital devices has also increased their screen time which has given rise to the problem of digital eye strain. The condition causes dryness, irritation and redness of eyes, etc.

Take a 10-minute break from the screen every one hour; one should maintain a distance of at least 1 ft from the gadget, spend limited time and have adequate sleep. But in case any kind of eye problem persists, get your child’s eyes examined.

Though damage to your eyes can happen any time of the year and not just in the summer or monsoon, therefore, it is advisable to follow these points to protect your eyes all year long:

• Wear sunglasses labelled “100% UV protected” only, while you step out
• Clouds don’t block UV light. The sun’s rays can pass through haze and clouds, so keep your shades handy all the time
• Always wash your eyes with cold water whenever you return from outside during monsoon
• Never keep the contact lenses out in the open and make sure to clean the cases frequently
• Wear a hat or carry an umbrella to provide an extra layer of protection to your eyes
• During summer, if your eyes feel red or excessively dry, use a cool eye mask for some relief
• Never look directly at the sun
• Avoid using any cosmec products during eye infection, especially during the monsoon season
• Severe dehydration makes it harder for the body to produce tears, leading to dry eye syndrome and other vision problems. Drinking plenty of water each day can prevent and reverse many of the side effects of dehydration
• It is vital to protect your eyes from rain splashes as they bring dryness that is harmful to our eyes
• If you get caught in a dust storm, make sure to rinse your eyes immediately. Debris in the eye can lead to various infections and can irritate the eye in general
• Most importantly, in case of an eye problem or infection, get your eyes checked by a certified ophthalmologist only.

 The writer is Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight (Group of Eye Hospitals).