Deteriorating air quality in the national Capital has brought untold miseries to the people in the form of respiratory and other diseases. Delhiites may be in for severe eye problems due to highly polluted air in the city. According to the Capital’s eye specialists, there is a 20 per cent increase in the number of patients flooding OPDs complaining about eye disorders due to climate change and terrible air pollution.
Dr. Rohit Saxena, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at AIIMS said these days, more patients are visiting OPDs complaining about eye allergies and conjunctivitis due to vehicular air pollution. There is about 20 per cent increase in the patients suffering from eye infections.
“Red and watery eyes and irritation are the early symptoms. If people do that quick action to this problem, it can have long term eye disorders such as chronic eye problem — dry eyes. People who work at construction sites are on the high risk factor,” said Dr Saxena.
According to Dr Harbansh lal, Senior Consultant ophthalmologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, “All age group people are affected due to air pollution, however, people who have outdoor work face the risk. Schoolchildren are complaining more of eye disorders.”
Earlier, The Pioneer had reported that poor air quality and climate change have also led to an increase in the respiratory diseases, ENT problems and auto-immune diseases such as arthritis among people.
Medical officials said in the coming days, there will be spike in the number of patients, as the PM 2.5 and PM 10 are touching a new high everyday.