City witnesses downpour of eye flu Each doctor gets at least seven cases of conjunctivitis daily

City witnesses downpour of eye flu

Each doctor gets at least seven cases of conjunctivitis daily

Heavy rains in the last few days has led to a spurt in conjunctivitis cases in the city. Eye specialists are seeing at least seven cases a day where patients are complaining of burning sensation, aversion to light and watering of eyes in their clinics. “One in six patients is a child. Children do not realise that vigorous and impulsive rubbing of eyes on irritation can only lead to more complications for the patient,” said Dr Ateek Shaikh, ophthalmologist at Kurla-based Kohinoor hospital. Ayub Siddiqui, 27, was morose for more than two weeks as his eyes turned blood red and burnt unbearably after he contracted viral conjunctivitis. “The infection lasted for more than a month. It ended up spoiling the festival of Eid for me. I assumed that the infection would heal within two to three days as my wife’s infection had healed within that time,” said Siddiqui, who is a Kurla-based businessman. Doctors say last year during monsoon, cases of sore eyes were healing in four to five days, but this year patients are sufferi ng for two-three weeks. Fluctuating temperatures and increase in humidity has lead to a favourable breeding ground for the adeno virus, which attacks the conjuctiva (white part of the eye), say doctors. Viral conjunctivitis tends to follow a longer course than acute bacterial conjunctivitis, lasting for approximately two to four weeks. “Last year, more patients were presenting symptoms of bacterial infection. Viral cases have increased this year,” said Dr Arjun Ahuja, opthalmology, KEM hospital in Parel. Experts warn that if mistreated viral conjunctivitis can cause white spots in the cornea, leading to blurring of vision. “A lot of times, even as the sore eyes do not heal, they continue using steroid-based eye drops for more than a fortnight. Self medication in such cases is risky as it can lead to permanent damage to the cornea.