The first few showers have already brought with it a rising number of virulent forms of conjunctivitis, which not only takes weeks to heal but also has corneal complications.
The outdoor patient departments (OPDs) of city hospitals are flooded with conjunctivitis cases, in addition to fever and respiratory problems.Over the last one week, hospitals have recorded a sharp rise in patients suffering from acute conjunctivitis.
Dr Harshvardhan Ghorpade, consultant ophthalmologist at Fortis Hospital, said, “Around 20% of the conjunctivitis cases that I am getting are with corneal complications, where we see white spots on the cornea and there is a drop in vision.”
According to ophthalmologists, patients suffering from viral conjunctivitis experience severe pain and more redness, which can last for weeks. “This may be because of the mutation of the virus. All that people can do is be careful and embrace hygiene to prevent getting the disease,” added Dr Ghorpade.
Dr Nagendra Shah, consultant eye specialist at Bombay Hospital, said, “It is best to treat the viral conjunctivitis at the onset and show it to a doctor instead of self-treatment. The delay in proper treatment is worsening the virulent form of conjunctivitis. Also, we are getting cases were the viral conjunctivitis is associated with fever and upper respiratory problem. So, the doctor should not only concentrate on the eye, but also look out for the other problems.”
Dr Pranay Kapadia, an ophthalmologist, said: “This is a good time for the conjunctivitis-causing bacteria to spread.People need to be careful with hygiene so that it does not spread. Also, the spread of conjunctivitis can be checked by avoiding touching the eyes frequently.”
Experts have warned people against self-medication or buying eye drops without consulting a specialist, as it can be dangerous.
City hospitals have also witnessed a rise in cases of viral fever, malaria, typhoid, and pneumonia in the last one week.
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