How smog affects eyes, and what you can do to safeguard them

According to Dr Sabharwal, pollution irritates and inflames the eyes, leading to itching, watery discharge, swelling of the eyelids, and impaired vision. “Continued exposure to these pollutants also damages the sensitive structures of the eye, resulting in permanent vision impairment. The prolonged presence of these pollutants hurts the eye and degrades eye health. It, therefore, becomes necessary to take preventive measures, especially when the air quality is poor,” said Dr Sabharwal.

AQI are in severe category after temperature drop down, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

What can help?

Here are the simplest measures you can take to protect your eyes from all those pollutants.

*Avoid prolonged exposure to pollution.
*Wear protective glasses or sunglasses that protect your eyes from harmful particles.
*Ensure good hygiene, wash hands frequently, and not let pollutants get in direct contact with your eyes.
“If at all you experience the following: redness, itching, or blurry vision, see an eye specialist to avoid self-treating since inappropriate treatment may worsen the condition,” said Dr Sabharwal.

If you are experiencing itching, dryness, or redness, do not rub your eyes, cautioned Dr Harshwardhan Ghorpade, cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon, Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi-A Fortis Network Hospital. “Use eye drops to lubricate them instead, and if you suspect an eye infection, immediately consult a medical professional. The best way to protect organs as sensitive as the eyes is to reduce air pollution levels, but since that might not be possible in an individual capacity, we should take all the possible precautions so that it does not jeopardise our vision,” said Dr Ghorpade.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.