As incessant rains continue to batter Mumbai, Mumbaikars are faced with the dual challenge of a red alert and reddened eyes. The city is seeing a spike in conjunctivitis and rising eye infections amongst children and adults have added to its woes as people deal with intense torrential rains and pink eye.
Doctor believes that majority of cases are due to adenovirus which is affecting children more than adults. Ophthalmologists feel that they are experiencing conjunctivitis cases at an “epidemic level”. Experts say that during monsoon conjunctivitis cases rise due to high humidity, which favours viral growth rapidly and people face problems of redness, swelling, itching or watery eyes while severe cases go to the extent of corneal damage and there is a phenomenal rise in cases.
We need to understand the term viral conjunctivitis: often attributed to cold, it is a contagious respiratory disorder that is resolved in 1-2 weeks and spreads from contact to contact says leading eye surgeon ophthalmologist and president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr Ajay Ambade. Broadly, conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection called conjunctiva of the clear membrane that covers outer layer of eyes and so it is vulnerable to irritants and allergens. Bacterial conjunctivitis can lead to excessive discharge which can be thicker and yellow in colour.
Dr Ajay Ambade feels the eye problem is self-resolving, but complications can be expected if it enters the cornea. While speaking to The Daily Guardian, Dr Ajay said washing hands with soap, avoiding touching and rubbing eyes as it can transfers germs faster, and avoiding close contact with the people having conjunctivitis can help prevention to a great extent.
The majority of the cases can be treated with oral medicines though some viral infections can progress to bacterial infections.
