Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Delhi Sees A 60% Surge In Patients With Eye Problems Due To Worsening Air Pollution, According To Doctor

Amid the discrepancy in Delhi AQI, where the official data on the Air Quality Index shows condition to be 'poor', while the ground reality shows a stark difference, with the AQI reported at 'severe' and even 'hazardous' levels, doctors have now pointed out that there is a 60% rise in patients with eye problems. All thanks to the toxic smog. 

As per the IQ Air, at 7:22am, Delhi recorded 501 AQI, categorizing it under 'Hazardous', while, AQI.in recorded the AQI at 739. While there is contestation among the accurate AQI, several media outlets have reported on the discrepancies of AQI between the official data, and data from local or private outlets that measures the air quality. 

However, what remains undeniable is the fact that doctors have noted a rise in patients with eye problems. As per the <em>PTI </em>report, ophthalmologists have said to see a 60% surge in cases with eye problems. They are blaming this to the "toxic cocktail of smoke, particulate matter, and chemical residues from firecracker burning". 

The doctors confirmed that most cases now appear with patients who have allergies, dryness, burning sensation, and excessive watering in the eyes. The pollution is not only affecting children, but adults are equally impacted. 

Dr Ikeda Lal, Senior Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery Specialist at Delhi Eye Centre and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told <em>PTI</em>, "Every year after Diwali, we brace for a rise in eye complaints. The number of patients complaining of itching, redness, and irritation has gone up by almost 50-60 per cent."

<h2>How Does Pollution Impact Your Eyes?</h2>

A study from 2022 published in the<strong><em> International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health </em></strong>notes for the adverse effects of air pollution on the eyes. Before understanding how air pollution impacts one's eye, it is important to understand what it consists of. 

<h2>The Composition Of Air Pollution</h2>

Air pollution is a mix of complex gas-phase pollutants and particles that are disbursed into atmosphere, and are harmful. 

<ul><li>Sulfur dioxide</li><li>Nitrogen dioxide</li><li>Carbon dioxide</li><li>Nitrogen monoxide</li><li>Carbon monoxide</li><li>Nitrogen oxides</li><li>Particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5</li><li>Particulate matter 10 or PM10</li></ul>

In addition to that, household pollution could also produce volatile organic compounds, for instance, formaldehyde could cause DNA damage in animal cells, and its carcinogenicity has been assessed by many studies too. 

<h2>The Impact Of Pollutants On Eyes</h2>

Air pollution is known to cause cardiovascular disorders, respiratory tract problems, ocular disease, neurologic disease, cancer, and even death, notes the study. 

In terms of its impact on the eyes, the pollutants usually work as irritants, which can cause inflammation and irritation on the eyes. The cornea is the most sensitive structure in the human body, reason being, its innervations in the ocular surface, which makes it extremely sensitive to environmental agents. The pollutants could thus cause conjunctivitis, which could become a frequent problem. 

A 2003 study titled Impact of <strong><em>Environmental Pollution on the Eye</em></strong>, conducted by R Saxena, et.al., noted that people who travelled to highly polluted areas where the PM level was five times higher than the WHO recommended, suffered from extensive subclinical ocular surgace change. 

Dr Aarti Nangia, who is the Prinipal Director of Ophthalmology at Max Hospitals, Dwarka, writes on the hospital website that air pollution could cause these following problems in the eyes:

<ul><li><strong>Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye: </strong>Eye becomes inflamed due to exposure to pollutants and leads to redness, itching, tearing, and even swelling of eyes</li><li><strong>Dry Eye Syndrome:</strong> Pollutants disrupt the tear film that keeps the eye lubricated and thus could cause dryness, irritation, and even blurred vision, and redness </li><li><strong>Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye): </strong>This happens due to a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, which gets worse due to exposure to dust and pollution</li><li><strong>Eye Irritation and Redness: </strong>Airborne pollutants could lead to general eye irritation and cause discomfort in day-to-day life.</li></ul>

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Amid the discrepancy in Delhi AQI, where the official data on the Air Quality Index shows condition to be 'poor', while the ground reality shows a stark difference, with the AQI reported at 'severe' and even 'hazardous' levels, doctors have now pointed out that there is a 60% rise in patients with eye problems. All thanks to the toxic smog. As per the IQ Air, at 7:22am, Delhi recorded 501 AQI, categorizing it under 'Hazardous', while, AQI.in recorded the AQI at 739. While there is contestation among the accurate AQI, several media outlets have reported on the discrepancies of AQI between the official data, and data from local or private outlets that measures the air quality. However, what remains undeniable is the fact that doctors have noted a rise in patients with eye problems. As per the PTI report, ophthalmologists have said to see a 60% surge in cases with eye problems. They are blaming this to the "toxic cocktail of smoke, particulate matter, and chemical residues from firecracker burning". The doctors confirmed that most cases now appear with patients who have allergies, dryness, burning sensation, and excessive watering in the eyes. The pollution is not only affecting children, but adults are equally impacted. Dr Ikeda Lal, Senior Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery Specialist at Delhi Eye Centre and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told PTI, "Every year after Diwali, we brace for a rise in eye complaints. The number of patients complaining of itching, redness, and irritation has gone up by almost 50-60 per cent."How Does Pollution Impact Your Eyes?A study from 2022 published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health notes for the adverse effects of air pollution on the eyes. Before understanding how air pollution impacts one's eye, it is important to understand what it consists of. The Composition Of Air PollutionAir pollution is a mix of complex gas-phase pollutants and particles that are disbursed into atmosphere, and are harmful. The air pollution comprises of:Sulfur dioxideNitrogen dioxideCarbon dioxideNitrogen monoxideCarbon monoxideNitrogen oxidesParticulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5Particulate matter 10 or PM10In addition to that, household pollution could also produce volatile organic compounds, for instance, formaldehyde could cause DNA damage in animal cells, and its carcinogenicity has been assessed by many studies too. The Impact Of Pollutants On EyesAir pollution is known to cause cardiovascular disorders, respiratory tract problems, ocular disease, neurologic disease, cancer, and even death, notes the study. In terms of its impact on the eyes, the pollutants usually work as irritants, which can cause inflammation and irritation on the eyes. The cornea is the most sensitive structure in the human body, reason being, its innervations in the ocular surface, which makes it extremely sensitive to environmental agents. The pollutants could thus cause conjunctivitis, which could become a frequent problem. A 2003 study titled Impact of Environmental Pollution on the Eye, conducted by R Saxena, et.al., noted that people who travelled to highly polluted areas where the PM level was five times higher than the WHO recommended, suffered from extensive subclinical ocular surgace change. Dr Aarti Nangia, who is the Prinipal Director of Ophthalmology at Max Hospitals, Dwarka, writes on the hospital website that air pollution could cause these following problems in the eyes:Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye: Eye becomes inflamed due to exposure to pollutants and leads to redness, itching, tearing, and even swelling of eyesDry Eye Syndrome: Pollutants disrupt the tear film that keeps the eye lubricated and thus could cause dryness, irritation, and even blurred vision, and redness Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye): This happens due to a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, which gets worse due to exposure to dust and pollutionEye Irritation and Redness: Airborne pollutants could lead to general eye irritation and cause discomfort in day-to-day life.