The heated summers are here and so are the common problems relating to the eye. During the summer season most of the people are affected with dehydration, heat stroke and skin darkening. Common eye problems that one faces when the temperatures rise are allergies, conjunctivitis and stye. Protection and proper eye hygiene can help one keep away from summer eye problems.

Thus, it is important to follow these simple steps to safeguard your eye’s health during this season.

Eye Allergy

People who suffer from allergic diseases like asthma, eczema, etc are more prone to eye allergy. Common allergens that causes eye allergy are diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke, and perfumes. Allergens cause our eye to release histamine that in turn makes your eye swell, become watery, and turn red.

Symptom – The symptoms of eye allergies are usually seasonal when allergens are floating around and could include the following:

• Swollen eyes
• Red eyes
• Puffy eyes, more so in the morning
• Itchy eyes or a burning sensation
• Eyes watering excessively
• Stringy eye discharge
• Vessels in the clear tissue covering the white portion of the eye could be dilated

Treatment

• The simplest home remedy is to rinse your eyes repeatedly with cold water, and then to wipe it gently with a soft tissue.
• Rose water is another natural remedy that has been used through the ages. Use 3 to 4 drops of rose water in both your eyes. Shut your eyes for around 5 minutes so that its full effects can take place.
• If home remedies do not work, your doctor can help you by prescribing suitable medication that will help you cure the infection.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a common and uncomfortable eye condition that can be caused by infections or irritants. The conjunctiva is thin clear tissue covering the front of the eye. One or both eyes may be affected, and the condition can spread from one to the other.

Symptoms

Symptoms of conjunctivitis may be different depending on what’s caused it, but often includes:

• Red eyes.
• Sticky discharge.
• Conjunctivitis from an infection may also cause:
• A burning feeling in the eyes.
• A gritty feeling in the eyes.
• Eyelashes having a sticky coating first thing in the morning.
• Enlarged ear lymph node (lymph gland).

Treatment

• Pink eye treatment is usually focused on symptom relief. Eye drops, cleaning eyelids with a wet cloth, and applying cold or warm compresses several times daily. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure of which eye drop to use.
• If you wear contact lenses, you’ll be advised to stop wearing them until treatment is complete.
• Disinfect hard lenses overnight before you reuse them.
• Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won’t help, and may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medication reaction.

Stye

A stye or hordeolum is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is actually an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection.

Symptoms

• A lump on the top or bottom eyelid
• Localized swelling of the eyelid
• Pain
• Redness
• Tenderness to touch
• Crusting of the eyelid margins
• Burning in the eye
• Droopiness of the eyelid
• Scratchy sensation on the eyeball
• Blurred vision
• Mucous discharge in the eye

Treatment

• The best home treatment to get rid of a stye is to apply a warm water compress as often as possible. It is important to remember that a stye may take months to resolve completely.
• An ophthalmologist can inject a steroid into the lesion, often resulting in a speedier resolution.
• If a sty appears infected, oral antibiotics may be necessary.
• Do not wear contact lenses until the sty resolves.

About the author- Dr. Ipsita Basu, DO, DNB, DipNB, Consultant – Pediatric Ophthalmology

And

Dr Joyeeta Das, Consultant Surgeon- Orbit & Oculoplasty

Disha Eye Hospitals