Eye care in monsoon: While the chances of skin problems and allergies increase in this season, the chances of eye infections also increase as the air gets contaminated with germs and viruses. Redness, irritation and swelling around the eyes become common.
A little eye care can go a long way in preventing infections and keeping your eyes healthy so that you can enjoy the monsoon season to the fullest. After all, prevention is better than cure.
In an interview with Zee English, Dr. Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), Consultant and Eye Surgeon at Netra Eye Center said, “The monsoon season is in full swing in Delhi. Heavy rains and hourly rains are being witnessed for 3-4 consecutive days since end. Schools have also been closed as Monsoon is at its peak in entire Delhi-NCR and various parts of India.
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There is no doubt that the monsoon season is a necessity, but it also brings with it several viral and bacterial eye infections such as conjunctivitis, eye allergies and intestinal, upper and lower respiratory tract infections.
We can enjoy monsoon to the fullest by taking necessary precautions and keeping eye infections at bay.
Common eye infections and irritations during monsoon
Here are the common eye complications one should take care of this monsoon:
1, Conjunctivitis: The month of July has seen a sudden spike in cases of conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. It is caused by bacterial and/or viral infection in the eye. Visible symptoms include redness and swelling of the eyes, yellow sticky discharge from the eyes, burning sensation in the eyes along with pain. These signals get intensified as the percentage of humidity in the atmosphere is high.
The above condition can be easily prevented by regular hand washing. Avoid touching your eyes and do not hesitate to contact your ophthalmologist at the earliest signs of infection.
2, Eyelid infection: Hot and humid rainy weather also increases the chances of eyelid infections like stye or chalazion.
Make sure you don’t touch or rub your eyes and avoid sharing towels, eye makeup, handkerchiefs and other items.
3, Dacryocystitis: This is a type of infection of the lacrimal sac that occurs when the drainage of tears from the eyes to the nose is blocked. The blocked areas promote the growth of microbes which cause inflammation and pain in the inner area of the eye. People who experience frequent watering of the eyes are at risk of developing this condition in hot and humid weather.
You should consult an oculoplastic surgeon as soon as you experience symptoms.
4, Dry eyes: This is a common condition faced by patients during the monsoon season. This is due to the disturbance caused by the tear film present in the eye. As a result, your eyes are prone to allergies as well as infections.
To solve the problem of dry eyes, frequent lubrication is required with the help of eye drops as prescribed by your ophthalmologist.
Ways to prevent eye infection in monsoon
Essential eye care tips to avoid eye infections during monsoon include:
1. Do not let rain water enter your eyes
We all love to enjoy the weather when it rains, but we are unaware of the fact that irritants, atmospheric pollutants, bacteria and viruses mix in rain water and they enter your eyes, thus Your eyes are prone to eye infections. In such a situation, make sure that if you accidentally get wet in the rain or rain water goes into your eyes, then wash your eyes with water.
2. Take care of our glasses (glasses or contact lenses)
Carry contact lens solutions with you and use them when needed. Keep cleaning the glasses with a clean handkerchief or linen cloth before wearing them during the monsoon season.
3. Wash hands frequently
A misconception is that conjunctivitis is spread by looking into the eyes of an infected person. But the truth is that this disease spreads through physical contact, when we touch the belongings or any other item of an infected person. That’s why you should wash your hands from time to time to avoid these infections.
4. One should not self-medicate
When you have sticky discharge from your eyes, watery eyes or burning sensation in your eyes. Most of the time, we go straight to the pharmacy and get some eye drops, but this should be avoided as these eye drops may contain steroids. Hence, it is recommended to visit an ophthalmologist in case of any eye problems.
5. Avoid sharing cosmetics, pillow covers, handkerchiefs and towels during the rainy season.
6. Clean contact lenses daily even when not in use.
7. Throw away expired eye cosmetics, contact lens solution or cosmetics that are no longer in use (after opening).
8. Use lubricating eye drops for dry eyes.
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9. In case of infection, see an eye specialist as soon as possible to avoid spreading the infection to others.
10. Avoid sending children who have infection to school for a few days.
11. Avoid spending too much time on screen to prevent unnecessary eye strain.
12. Do not self-medicate or put over-the-counter medications (except lubricants) in the eyes.