5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes from Pollution

The level of pollutants present in the air we breathe is alarming. Mostly, we consider these pollutants to be harmful to our skin, respiratory system, and cardiovascular systems. Nonetheless, the pollution we live amidst is causing great harm to our eyes too. Yes, the pollutants which are emitted from various industries in the form of dust, fumes, odours, smoke, are hazardous for the health of our eyes. Excessive and regular contact with these pollutants causes problems like dryness, redness, and irritation in the eye. Other than dryness and redness, the most common symptoms of eye problems caused due to Pollution are watery eyes, ropy discharge, itchiness, burning sensation, etc. Further, these minor eye problems can cause massive eye diseases or disorders. Thus, we must always be a little extra protective of our eyes.

5 Tips to Protect Your Eyes

Here are the five most prominent ways you can protect your eyes from pollution.

1.Use protective glasses or shades

Every day, we come across people who use face masks to prevent pollution from damaging their respiratory system. So, as the face masks act for our lungs similarly, the glasses work for our eyes. Thus, we must always wear protective eyeglasses or sunglasses. Especially when we are commuting through an open vehicle, or have exposure to the harmful pollutants present in the air, it is essential that we keep our eyes covered with the help of sunglasses. Eyeshades protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays.

2.Do not rub your eyes

Exposure to the pollutants present in the air causes a sensation of irritation in the eye. However, we must never rub our eyes under the influence of that sensation. Rubbing the eye can further enhance the irritation and cause a burning sensation to the eye. Also, rubbing the eye with bare hands can cause infections due to transfer of germs.

3.Befriend your eye drops

The layer of moisture present against our cornea helps prevent our eye against dryness, itchiness, infectious germs, and harmful pollutants. You must always keep your eye drops handy. Using the eye drops at regular time-intervals helps in keeping the eye moist and healthy. Moreover, lubricating the eye 2-3 times a day helps in relaxing the eye muscles.

4.Use cold compressors and always stay hydrated

The inflammation caused to the eyes due to excessive exposure to pollution can be eased out with the help of cooling compressors. A general cool compressor such as a clean cloth soaked in cold water comes handy when you need to get rid of the itchiness and inflammation of the eye. Another thing is that you can also use some ice-cubes wrapped in a clean cotton cloth. Apply the cubes to your eyes, and it can work wonders to cure the burning sensation caused by pollution. Apart from that, drink a lot of fluids. Intake of water is best for the body and eyes. It not only keeps you hydrated but also flushes out harmful toxins and waste from the body.

5.Regular eye check-up is a must!

Do not overlook even a simple eye problem. Regular eye check-ups are a must to ensure the health of your eyes. Moreover, if the dryness in your eyes prevails for a long time and the remedies do not seem to provide comfort to your eyes, then you must consult an ophthalmologist immediately. This way, you are going to be aware of the status of your eyes. Any disease or the onset of a disease can be diagnosed and treated on time before it gets severe. Levels of toxic air in metropolitan cities and surrounding areas are on the rise. We are exposed to inhale air which is full of harmful pollutants. You must have heard of smog. It is a dense layer of air which is formed when sunlight reacts to the gases (industrial emissions/car fumes) in the lower atmosphere. It is a common phenomenon in traffic-clogged cities and places where industries with high emissions are located. Smog can affect eyes, cause allergies and damage to the overall health of an individual. Smog irritates the nose, lungs, throat and eyes. It has the potential to cause damage to your breathing and respiratory system.

Let’s understand the most common eye conditions caused by the air-pollution/smog:

• Burning sensation/discomfort
• Redness
• Swelling
• Soreness
• Watery eyes
• Tired eyes
• Itching sensation
• Eye allergy
• Dry eyes

There are many ways through which you can minimize the risk of infections.

1.Avoid exposure to harmful pollutants directly:

Try to stay indoors on the day when the pollution is high.

2.Wash hands:

Try not to touch your eyes directly and keep washing your hands more often.

3.Eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated:

To fight any disease or condition, it is vital to keep fit. Maintain a routine to eat a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients and Omega 3 fatty acids. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, spinach, almonds, berries, fish, carrots which are extremely good for the eyes

4.Contact lenses:

Smog causes redness and itching in the eyes. It’s good not to wear contact lenses if you feel such discomfort in your eyes. Consult with an ophthalmologist. Use lubricating eye drops when advised. If you are wearing the same lenses, make sure they are cleaned and scratch-free.

5.Removal of eye makeup:

To mitigate all ill-effects of chemicals, make sure to remove all the makeup before going to bed. Cosmetic products like kohl, eyeliner, mascara etc. often aggravate eye allergies. Use eye makeup remover to clean your eyes and surrounding areas. Soothe.

We live a fast-paced life. Our eyes bear the brunt of all kinds of harmful effects, direct exposure, hit and rough weather. Spending too much time in front of a screen puts our eyes to strain. Do you think that we often fail to give our eyes the right kind of treatment it deserves? Lack of sleep, over-thinking, dry climate, allergies.. all of these factors can worsen your eyes. When was the last time you correctly took time off to treat your eyes with the care it deserves? A little pampering will rejuvenate your eyes. Your delicate eyes and surrounding skin require the help of a proper eye-care routine and eye mask, at least one in a week. You can quickly get a variety of eye masks in the market.

Eye Mask Benefits

• Eliminates puffiness
• Reduces dark circles
• Tightens the skin
• Diminishes fatigue
• Hydrates the skin
• Makes eyes appear brighter
• Leaves energized

Eye exercises to ward off eye strain symptoms

Exposure to pollution can leave your eyes tired and dry. But by following specific eye exercises, you can relax your eyes. The best part about them is you can do it anywhere from a seated position.

1.Change the focus:

Hold your pointer finger just a few inches from your eyes. Focus. Now slowly move that finger away from your face, holding your attention. The focus should not be diverted even when the finger is a little away from you. Slowly bring back the finger. Look away and focus on something else now. Repeat this exercise at least thrice.

2.Follow Figure Eight:

In this exercise, pick any point on the floor at least ten feet away from you. Focus on it. Make an imaginary figure of eight with your eyes. Keep tracing for thirty seconds. Keep switching directions.

At CFS, all kinds of eye issues are taken care of and treated with the right medication. CFS has been actively working towards eye care and healthy vision. The experienced doctors at Centre for Sight have time and again spoken about holistic eye care and how eye check-ups should be done at a normal level. With more than two decades of practice, CFS has always tried its best to give complete healing to people dealing with different kinds of eye problems.