Eye infection in monsoon: Types of infections and tips for prevention

Conjunctivitis and styes are common during the rainy season, but good hygiene and timely medical care can protect your vision. (Image: Canva)

During the monsoon, which is the rainy season, weather feels like a breath of fresh air after the days of summer. The season also ushers in a range of health issues; the most common being eye infections. The increased humidity and moist conditions in this season favour the growth and spread of several pathogens, thereby predisposing to infections. Being very sensitive organs, our eyes are more prone to such conditions.

Conjunctivitis, stye, allergic reaction being the common eye problems that are unfolded during monsoon. Not only are these issues uncomfortable, but if left untreated, they may develop into something more serious, such as vision loss. Good hygiene and prompt medical care are critical at this time. When it comes to symptoms, people are most often not paying attention to the initial ones — like redness, itching, or watery eye — because they simply think those will clear up. This inattention can be dangerous, especially if you have underlying health problems — such as diabetes — that make you more susceptible to severe infections.

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Dr Pawan Gupta, Senior Cataract & Retina Surgeon, Eye 7 Hospital Lajpat Nagar & Vision Eye Clinic, New Delhi provides useful information about common monsoon-related eye infections, their reasons and necessary preventive tips for healthy eyes.

Common Eye Infections During Monsoon

The two most common types of eye infections during monsoons are conjunctivitis and styes, says Dr Gupta.

Conjunctivitis:

Commonly known as ‘pink eye,’ conjunctivitis is a contagious condition that causes inflammation of the conjunctiva – the thin, clear covering that lines the inside of the eyelid and white part of the eye. It may be viral or bacterial, and takes the form of symptoms like redness, watering, itching and a gritty feeling on eyes. Viral conjunctivitis is more common this time of the year and is associated with flu-like symptoms.

Stye:

Stye is a painful bump or pus which appears on your eyelid due to bacterial infection of oil glands. It can be painful, swollen and cause a lot of discomfort. Styes usually develop due to lack of good eyelid hygiene or practice of touching the eyes with unclean hands.

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Prevention and Care

Personal and hand hygiene are key to preventing infections, Dr Gupta says. Touch and rub your eyes less often and wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If you have an eye allergy already in place, get that treated too to mitigate the risk of suffering from infections.”

Extra caution is needed for those with diabetes or other health problems. If the irritation doesn't stop after 2-3 days, you should visit an eye specialist. If you ignore these symptoms then it is possible that complications might occur which may harm your vision.

Just by maintaining basic hygiene and seeking timely medical help, one can make sure one enjoys the rain without damaging the eyes.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.