Poor air quality raising dry eyes, allergies in children and adults

Even as the national capital continues to battle poor air quality experts on Wednesday said that the toxic pollutants are raising dry eyes irritations and allergies in the eyes of children and adultsOn Wednesday morning Delhirsquos air quality remained in the ldquosevererdquo category with the average Air Quality Index AQI at 427 at 10 am making it the most polluted city in India according to Central Pollution Control Board CPCB dataldquoPollution poses a serious threat to our eyes particularly to the conjunctiva and the cornea which is the first point of contact with harmful particles in the air The fine particulate matter allergens and toxins in polluted environments can irritate the ocular surface and make it highly susceptible to infectionsrdquo Dr Rohit Saxena professor of ophthalmology R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences AIIMS New Delhi told IANSldquoThis is especially of concern in children and adults already experiencing dry eyes or allergic reactions as these conditions worsen with exposure to poor air qualityrdquo he addedOn Wednesday morning about 12 out of 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi reported an AQI of 450 or above Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed the Delhi government to grant half of the staff to work from homeA recent study by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus showed that people living in areas with increased exposure to PM10 can be twice more at risk of suffering eye infectionsThe study showed that clinical visits by patients suffering ocular surface eye conditions that affect the eye surface including the cornea conjunctiva and eyelids more than doubled when ambient particulate matter from air pollution was in the atmosphereAir pollution can significantly affect eye health causing discomfort and irritation The polluted air carries suspended particles dust and pollutants which can irritate the eyesSaxena noted that frequent eye rubbing of the irritated eyes can weaken the cornea over time and lead to conditions like keratoconus an eye condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone shape which can lead to vision lossCommon symptoms include itching watering burning redness and a general feeling of sorenessldquoIn severe cases air pollution may lead to pain or blurred vision requiring immediate medical attentionrdquo Dr Smriti Goel Consultant Eye Surgery Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj told IANSThe doctor suggested avoiding overthecounter medications other than lubricating eye drops unless prescribed by a doctorUse lubricating drops to maintain moisture and apply cold compresses to relieve irritation Wear protective glasses or sunglasses to shield your eyes from dust and pollutants For allergyprone individuals antiallergic eye drops and timely treatment are essential These measures can help safeguard your eyes from pollutionrelated issuesrdquo Goel saidPollution isnrsquot just a respiratory issue it has harmful effects on the entire body including on the ocular health the experts said recommending people to limit outdoor exposure during peak periods of pollutionAlso ReadAir pollution raising risk of asthma lung cancer among children ExpertsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever