This summer, the UV rays were at its peak. And with the temperatures still high across the country, problems of dehydration persist, but it is also important to understand that the eyes suffer too and there is a need to protect them.
Summer affects sleep patterns, causes headaches and also leads to an itching sensation around the eyes, which are signs that they are being exposed to too much of sunlight, ultraviolet rays or dusty conditions.
Some people may suffer from a sensation, where they find that their upper eyelids are very heavy and they can’t look up straight. These are signals that the eye requires proper care and simple steps of cooling will provide enough protection for them.
Headaches, pool allergies are common
Sleep disturbances are common in summer due to the heat conditions. Lack of sleep strains the eyes and also results in frequent headaches. This leads to decreased work performance. Dr Jyotsna Myneni, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, explains, “The rising temperatures have seen people cooling themselves in swimming pools. Even in private clubs we find that there are more than 50 people at one time and that is not good as the cleaning process is not up to the mark. We find people coming with complaints of bacterial infections in the eyes.
This is surprising as bacterial infections are not caused during summer. They only happen when people are using swimming pools, which aren’t properly maintained. Using contaminated water for washing your face can also lead to an infection in the eyes.”
Dry eyes, a major problem
The severe weather conditions and the heatwaves cause dryness in the eyes. This is because of evaporation of tears. The tear film in the eye is disturbed because of increasing temperature and due to this, there is a slight pain. It also causes red eyes. The normal lubrication of the eye is affected if the exposure to direct sunlight is constant and continuous in the nature.
Dr Y. Narahari, Senior Ophthalmologist, Yashoda Hospitals, explains, “In some cases, we find that overexposure is straining the eyes and due to this there is redness, itching and burning sensation. When this person goes into a dark room or a room with less sunlight, eyes start watering as it finds difficult to adjust. These are a few signs that the eyes are not getting enough hydration and they require protection from the sunlight.”
Constant exposure can also lead to conjunctivitis and this is often found in children who play outdoors most of the time, sales personnel and also agricultural labourers. The incidence of allergic conditions in the eyes is very high in this group and they are found to suffer from severe itching and have the urge to rub the eyes hard. Dr Narihari explains, “Rubbing merely aggravates the condition. What is important is to wash the eyes with cold water every few minutes or opt for lubricant drops which will allow the dryness to dispel and create the required comfort for the eyes.”
Frequent blinking is important
In some cases, only water doesn’t work to keep yourself hydrated, hence it is important that the person has electrolyte water or lime water with salt, which will ensure that the body gets enough hydration and also the organs receive the benefit of the same. Yet, if there is a burning sensation then it is important to keep in mind that the person is not blinking enough.
Dr Shubhra Goel, Consultant Ophthalmic Facial Plastic and Cosmetic surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, explains, “The present working conditions has aggravated the dry eye syndrome significantly. It gets further aggravated due to the weather conditions. Those who are constantly working on the computer must remember that frequent breaks and blinking at regular intervals is very important.”
The most important thing is to ensure that the condition must not be allowed to prevail far too long as it would then cause severe complications in the eyes. Dr Goel adds, “You won’t see an immediate damage. What happens is that wear and tear of the tissues is very fast and this tends to have a major impact within the next 10 years.”
