Mumbai: Monsoon eye epidemic round the corner

With Mumbai anticipating the arrival of the monsoon in the coming weeks citybased ophthalmologists are raising concerns over a likely surge in eye infection cases ldquoThe onset of the monsoon season is often accompanied by a notable increase in eye infections and visionrelated issuesrdquo explained Dr Smit M Bavariya of Dr Agarwalrsquos Eye HospitalCrowded homes packed public transport and shared workspaces in big cities make it all too easy for infections to spread like wildfire ldquoItrsquos like the perfect storm for bacteria and virusesrdquo says Dr Hasanain Shikari consultant ophthalmologist at Saifee Hospital ldquoThe humidity acts almost like an incubator encouraging microbes to grow and spread faster than usualrdquoVarsha Salunke patientAnd while we often worry about what we eat or drink during the rainy season many forget the simplest way these bugs reach us mdash through our own hands Touching your eyes after handling contaminated surfaces can easily trigger an infection ldquoHandtoeye contact is the most common routerdquo says Dr ShikariDr Vinaykumar Agrawal of Clear Vision Clinic Santacruz adds that the constant flipflop between hot and cool temperatures along with a spike in moisture gives pathogens the upper hand ldquoWersquore seeing a surge in conditions like viral conjunctivitis mdash what people call lsquoMadras Eyersquo mdash as well as bacterial infections styes and even corneal ulcersrdquoItrsquos not just theory mdash cases are rising rapidly across the city Take Varsha Salunke a 38yearold staff member at Dr Bavariyarsquos clinic What began as mild irritation in one eye quickly turned into fullblown conjunctivitis ldquoIt was painful and my eyes watered a lotrdquo she says ldquoIt started in my right eye and then spread to the left toordquo Before long her 10yearold daughter also began showing symptomsDr Charuta Mandke head of ophthalmology at Cooper Hospital explains that the spike is also tied to the overall increase in seasonal illnesses ldquoMonsoon brings a wave of viral and bacterial infectionsrdquo she says ldquoWhen the immune system is already under strain eye infections find an easy opening With schools reopening children are in close contact again They touch everything rub their eyes and unknowingly spread infections Itrsquos no surprise we see a surge in paediatric cases every June and JulyrdquoChildren the elderly and people with low immunity are particularly vulnerable Doctors have noted a two to threefold increase in patient inflow during this season The adenovirus has been flagged as a leading cause of viral conjunctivitisPrevention experts say starts with the basics mdash strict hygiene ldquoAvoid touching your eyes especially with unwashed handsrdquo urges Dr Bavariya ldquoThat one simple habit can cut your risk significantlyrdquo Contact lens users are advised to reduce or stop usage during this time and protective eyewear is recommended for those frequently outdoorsWhatrsquos more concerning is the widespread tendency to selfmedicate ldquoSteroidbased eye drops are being misused without prescriptionsrdquo warns Dr Bavariya ldquoThis can worsen viral infections damage the cornea and lead to serious complicationsrdquo Dr Agrawal adds ldquoIf your symptoms persist for more than a day donrsquot reach for a random eye drop mdash see a professionalrdquo While most eye infections clear up within a few days early diagnosis and proper treatment can reduce recovery time and curb further spread