With summer comes a lot of heat and dry air and a lot of dust and pollen where the heat makes the tears evaporate faster and the dust causes allergies which make our eyes very weak in the summer. As summer approaches, our bodies become more susceptible to heat stroke and dehydration.
You will take extra care of your skin but don’t forget to take care of your eyes from dry, dusty, hot weather. Your eyes are very vulnerable to the heat of summer.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Prabhakar GV, Consultant-Cornea, Cataract, LASIK, Shankara Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, revealed some common eye problems caused by extreme heat.
- Dry eye: Heat causes tears to evaporate more quickly in the eyes and dry eyes are more likely to develop. This results in irritation and, often, a burning sensation in your eyes. This can be avoided by using artificial tear drops and reducing screen time.
- allergy: Increased temperature and humidity along with dust cause various eye allergies. Common symptoms of an allergic reaction to the eyes are itching, redness, swelling, and burning. This can be prevented by using sunglasses to avoid dust, also make sure to avoid rubbing the eyes completely.
- Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by viruses or bacteria. It is highly contagious and can be avoided by maintaining good hygiene.
- Lid Style: Caused by a bacterial infection, a stye is a condition commonly seen in children with swelling and pain and redness in one or both eyelids. For this, doctor’s consultation and treatment is necessary.
He has suggested the following measures to avoid eye diseases in summer.
- Maintain good personal hygiene.
- Do not touch or rub your eyes.
- Do not share towels, handkerchiefs, cosmetics etc.
- Wear swimming goggles when swimming.
- Stay hydrated.
- Use UV protection sunglasses when going out in the sun.
- Avoid sunscreen lotion touching your eyes.
Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr. Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), consultant and eye surgeon at Eye Center New Delhi sheds light on the most common eye problems we face and how to treat them.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: We get many patients especially children with severe allergic conjunctivitis during April-May. Common symptoms are redness, itching and irritation of the eyes. All these lead to a situation where they cannot pay attention to work and studies.
Precautions to be taken to reduce the chances of eye allergy are as follows-
i) Pay attention to eye hygiene
ii) Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes frequently
iii) Use sunglasses when riding two wheelers or going out on dusty/windy days.
iv) If symptoms occur, refer to ophthalmologist. Do not self-medicate.
2. Dry eye: As the use of air conditioners and fans increases in summer, when the humidity in the air decreases, the problem of people’s eyes is dry.
Symptoms include dry eyes, excessive watering, and burning, pain, or redness in the eyes.
Caution:
i) Keep AC and fan at tolerable level
ii) Use a humidifier while keeping the AC on
iii) Lubricating eye drops to keep the eyes cool
3. Conjunctivitis: People are more likely to develop conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, during the summer and changing seasons due to the increased growth of viruses, bacteria and pathogens. Symptoms include red eyes, watery discharge, yellow watery discharge, and a stinging sensation in the eyes.
Caution:
i) Frequent touching or rubbing of your eyes
ii) Avoid sharing towels, handkerchiefs, and eye cosmetics when you develop conjunctivitis.
iii) Do not touch children’s eyes with dirty hands.
iv) Do not use over-the-counter medications. If you develop symptoms, it is advisable to see an ophthalmologist.
4. Sty: This is a bacterial infection of the eyelid that causes small lumps on the eyelid that are painful.
Caution:
- Do not touch your eyes with dirty hands. If you develop a style, apply heat with a towel soaked in warm water and see an ophthalmologist for proper treatment.
5. Phototoxicity: Extreme sunlight and high temperatures can cause retinal phototoxicity (can damage the retina).
Caution:
- Try to wear sunglasses when going outside between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to protect your eyes from UV rays, which can be very harmful to your eyes.
In addition, he recommended some general precautions and door-to-door messages –
- Stay hydrated: Drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day
- Use sunglasses: Sunglasses should be worn when going outside
- Wear goggles while swimming
- Avoid sharing towers, hankies, pillows and eye cosmetics.
- Moderate use of air conditioners
- Do not make eye contact, especially with dirty hands
- Use ice/cooling packs or wash eyes with cold water in case of swelling, redness of eyes
- Do not self-medicate in case of infection
Please remember, your eyes need special care in hot summer. Hence, it is imperative to take proper care during summer season as it can cause serious eye problems. In case of any infection or problem in the eyes, it is advised not to self-medicate and visit an experienced ophthalmologist.