Environmental Pollution and Eye Care

Environmental Pollution and the Eye Care

Environmental pollution is a major cause for eye damage. Such pollution can be air-borne or water-borne.

Air-borne Pollution

Air-borne pollution is mainly caused by:

1. Industrial smoke, fumes of obnoxious mixtures, smoke from chimneys.
2. Automobi1es~xhaust gases of vehicles run on fuel.
3. Dust, sand, sawdust, coal gas.
4. Sewage effluent, garbage, cattle excreta.

Water-borne Pollution

Water-borne pollution is the result of:

1. Industrial effluents from plants, factories and mills.
2. Sewage and animal and human excreta.

Treatment for Eye Diseases Caused by Environmental Pollution

The most common eye symptoms due to exposure to pollutants in the atmosphere are the constant burning and itching of eyes which are, at times, also red and painful. Most of irritation and red eyes are in polluted cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. The picture resembles an allergic conjunctivitis. There is associated soreness of the throat and cough, and in extreme forms, breathlessness and loss of appetite.

Remedy

1. Get away from the polluted environment to a clean, natural environment.
2. Clean the eyes with boiled water and boiled cotton two-three times a day.
3. Use cleaning eye drops like Visine, Clearing and Chloromycetine for long duration.
4. Do not use strong antibiotics.
5. Move closer to natural green surroundings.