Rohit Shishodia
The persistent poor to severe air quality in Delhi-NCR has led to major increase in the numbers of patients suffering from different eye problems in Delhi-AIIMS. The problems include dry eyes, itching, redness in eyes, congestion and foreign body sensation.

The worrying part of this poor air is that if somebody is exposed to such air pollution he will have persistent dry eye, itching and allergic conjunctivitis for long time. This restricts daily activities of a person and impacts the quality of time.

AIIMS doctors have pointed out that treatment to these eye problems can be given but exposure to such poor air quality should be limited which is not very easy.  

Dr Sridevi Nair from Department of Ophthalmology, RP Centre, Delhi-AIIMS told DTMT: “Particulate matter and gases present in the air including ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds which affect the eyes. They come from vehicular emissions.”

“These components in mixture with moisture can cause redness, congestion, watering eye, mucus discharge, irritation, excessive tearing and foreign body sensation. Many patients with complaints come to our OPDs. There is definite increase of patients having these eye problems” she added.

“Some of the studies have suggested that it can cause problem in retina, choroid and also hamper vascular supply. The problem is that you have to decrease your exposure to this pollution.”