Eye allergy on the rise in valley

Kathmandu, June 18

Eye problems are on the rise due to pollution in the capital.

According to Dr Ben Limbu, cataract and oculoplastic surgeon at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, eye allergies and eye problems have increased by 50 per cent in the past 15 years.

“Unhealthy lifestyle, environmental pollution, lack of balanced diet and excessive consumption of junk food are directly connected to eye allergies,” Dr Ben said. According to the doctor, eye allergies of varied forms such as redness in eyes, pain, infections, and tears in the eyes are frequent complaints of people living in the capital. “Earlier, people used to suffer from infection and redness in eyes once a year, but nowadays such infections are reported multiple times in a year,” he said. Due to environment pollution, dust enters inside the eyes resulting in dryness, itching and infection. “About 30 to 40 per cent patients are diagnosed with dryness in the eyes in Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology,” added the doctor.

Likewise, cases of low-vision are also on the rise among city people. He said, “Diabetes, blood pressure and other factors were contributing to low vision problems.”

“Some people use eye drops for immediate relief. But though such drops provide immediate relief they can have negative effect on the eyes.”