Air pollution can play havoc with your eyes. Here’s how

                                                                   

As post Diwali air pollution continues to make news and raise concerns, it is important to safeguard ourselves from the side-effects of toxic pollutants that can cause respiratory disorders, lung cancer, brain or kidney damage and heart disease in long run. 

Higher levels of air pollution in general can lead to eye conditions like conjunctivitis, eye irritation or dry eye. Dry eye is a condition where your eyes don't produce enough tears to lubricate your eye.

"Effect of air pollution or eyes manifestation of air pollution can range from minimal symptoms to chronic discomfort and eye irritation. Common symptoms include itching, irritation, chronic discomfort, dry eye syndrome," says Dr Sheetal Ballal, consultant- Ophthalmology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road.

Symptoms are higher among contact lens wearers. Poor air quality can accelerate pre-existing dry eye disease, she says.

Apart from the above-mentioned eye conditions, high levels of air pollution can also increase risk of age-related macular degeneration as the pollutants may enter bloodstream and damage the small blood vessels within the eye. Studies also suggest that pollution can increase our risk of developing an eye condition called glaucoma that can cause blindness.

Can pollution lead to permanent loss of vision?

There have been instances when people have lost their eyes due to eye allergies, one of the conditions that occur due to air pollution.

"Pollutants are very common causes for eye allergies and dry eyes. Disruption of protective atmospheric UV layer increases risk of retinal damage (ARMD) and visual loss. One of my young patients, an 18-year-old girl lost one eye permanently. She had developed eye allergies. She had shifted to Mumbai from her hometown. We had asked her to use steroid eye drops for 1 week and to follow up but she self-medicated and came after 6 months with glaucoma and permanent loss of vision in one eye," says Dr Sandeep Kataria, Consultant Opthalmologist, Wockhardt Hospital.

Moving away from the polluted environment can improve eye health and benefit people with eye allergies.

"I see patients’ eyes getting better when they go to their home town during summer vacations. That's a real powerful proof. I also saw a marked decrease in eye allergies during the covid lockdowns," he adds.

Protecting eyes from air pollution

Dr Kataria and Dr Ballal suggest ways to protect your precious eyes from the harmful effects of pollution

* Simple home remedies like frequent cold eye compresses reduce symptoms of eye allergies. 

* Switching to electric vehicles and solar energy are long term solutions to avoid pollution in general. 

* People wearing contact lenses should be more careful since they are more prone to develop additional eye problems. 

* Wear good quality protective glasses to prevent pollutants from entering the eye

* Avoiding outdoors when pollution is at high peak like early morning

* Avoiding contact lens use when air quality is poor washing hands frequently, avoiding rubbing eyes using lubricating eyedrops as prescribed by the eye doctor.

* Detailed eye check is recommended in case there is constant eye irritation.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

5 Eye Issues People Have Faced Due to the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our world, perhaps forever. And while we are fighting back and trying to edge our way towards a normal life, we still don't know when will we be truly free from the clutches of this pandemic. We all had to face our own, personal challenges in this past year, but one of the less-discussed aspects of this time in our lives is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our eye health.

Eye care providers worldwide observed a steep and sudden rise in ocular issues, attributing many of them to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying cooped up in our homes for months during quarantine has also meant that we're spending more hours every day in front of screens. All this extra screen time caused more strain on our eyes than ever before, which, in turn, has resulted in a variety of eye-related problems. We discuss 5 of the major ones below.

1. Mask-induced dry eye

According to health professionals, the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome (DES) have become quite common among people across the world since March of last year. The main reason behind the uptick in DES cases can be attributed to widespread mask mandates across the world. Wearing masks hinders the normal flow of air from our nostrils and diverts some of the air we breathe out towards our eyes.

When this happens continually for long hours, it causes the natural lubrication of the eyes to dry up. This is why healthcare providers and essential workers, who are required to wear masks for close to 50 hours a week, have endured dry and itchy eyes the most. 

 

Patients who are wearing masks for extended periods of time are also likely to encounter these symptoms. According to a study published last year, the elderly and those with an impaired immune system are also more likely to suffer from this issue. Interestingly, this includes those who have never previously suffered from dry eyes. 

 

Ill-fitting masks can worsen the symptoms because of the continuous flow of exhaled air on the exposed eye while breathing. So, make sure that you wear a properly fitting mask that will help reduce airflow directed at the eyes. Also, if you have to wear a mask all day, make sure you stay away from screens at the end of the day. Take breaks and make sure that you blink regularly. Placing a warm compress on your eyes for a few minutes before bed will also help.

 

2. Computer Vision Syndrome

The pandemic forced most of us to stay at home all year. Millions of people are still working from home, but even those who don't are glued to their computer- or mobile screens as they can’t venture out. Digital screens make the eyes work harder. The more time we spend in front of them, the more we strain our eyes. Staying home and spending hours staring at digital screens has led to an increase in eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes in the last year. 

 

These are all symptoms of computer vision syndrome, also referred to as digital eye strain. The American Optometric Association describes the condition as “a group of eye- and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader, and cell phone use.” 

 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure that you're taking frequent screen-time breaks. In many cases, wearing glasses prescribed specifically for computer use may improve your symptoms. Using screen glare filters on your devices will also be quite helpful, especially if you have to spend several hours every day in front of screens. However, if you experience a steady decline in vision, please see an eye doctor.

3. Convergence Insufficiency

Another common ocular issue associated with the pandemic is convergence insufficiency (CI). The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus describes the condition as “the inability to maintain binocular function (keeping the two eyes working together) while working at a near distance.” Usually, one or both eyes move outward when focusing on a word or object nearby. 

 

While the exact causes of CI are still unknown, health experts believe that people are experiencing these symptoms during prolonged near-work, such as reading or spending time in front of a computer screen. The symptoms of CI include blurry vision, double vision, eyestrain, vision problems, headaches, trouble concentrating, and difficulty in reading.

Patients often complain of having read a page in a book and suddenly becoming confused about what they read. The symptoms of CI can be aggravated when one spends long hours staring at a digital screen because people tend to blink less while focusing on digital screens. Ophthalmologists generally recommend doing pencil push-ups for people who experience mild symptoms of convergence insufficiency. Just hold a pencil at arm’s length and slowly bring it towards your nose until you see double. Keep doing this for a few minutes every hour while you're doing near-work, and it should help. 

 

 

4. Corneal abrasions

Cases of ocular injuries and corneal abrasions have become pretty common during the pandemic, as more and more people are trying to finish home projects and other DIY tasks in quarantine. A corneal abrasion is basically a scratch on the surface of the eye caused by a foreign body like flying dust, specks of metal, grains of sand, a fingernail, and other debris that get trapped in the eye. You may endure symptoms like eye pain, watery eyes, inflammation, or blurred vision. Thankfully, most corneal abrasions are mild and can be treated easily. 

 

If you scratch your eye, rinse it immediately with clean water or saline solution. Blinking several times will also help remove the little particles of sand or dust trapped in your eye. However, if these actions don’t bring any relief, then it's best that you get your eye checked. 

 

Corneal abrasions can be prevented by wearing safety goggles while doing household tasks. Also, refrain from rubbing or putting pressure on the eyes. 

 

5. Central serous chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy happens when fluid builds up under the retina. This can lead to blurred central vision, dark spots, and distorted vision. The most common cause for this condition is stress. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a tremendous amount of stress to people across the globe, many have been experiencing central serous chorioretinopathy in recent months. This condition generally affects just one eye at a time, but both eyes can be affected at the same time as well. 

 

The best way to treat central serous chorioretinopathy is to manage your stress. So, try and find ways to relax if you are under too much stress. Mediate, eat healthy, exercise, and sleep well. Usually, these should help keep the symptoms in check. But if they persist, then it would be a good idea to get your eyes checked by a professional.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement