A typical summer ailment
Conjunctivitis is a regular eye problem in the summer period. Many conjunctivitis ailments are caused by contact with the chlorine in swimming pools or the salt in the sea.
The summer is a dangerous time for eye injuries that are completely preventable. According to Roberto Gallego-Pinazo, an Ophthalmologist in the Ophthalmologist Service at the Hospital IMED Valencia, one of the main examples of this risk is represented by patients who wear contact lenses and who, either by oversight or laziness, sleep or swim while wearing their lenses. He also reminds us that just as the population protects their skin from exposure to the sun, action should also be taken against ultraviolet radiation and exposure of the eyes and the retinas to the sun.
Likewise, exposure to chemical agents, particularly chlorine in swimming pools is the main cause of irritating conjunctivitis. This is not infectious, but it does generate secretions, inflammations or itchiness. The normal reaction is to have red, swollen eyes and an itching and burning sensation. In some cases, it can also cause blurry vision, tearing or secretions when waking in the morning. For all these reasons, it is not advisable to bath in swimming pools or in the sea without using swimming goggles that protect the surface of the eye from direct contact with the water. In addition, it should be remembered that the chlorine in the water does not only cause irritation to the eyes and conjunctivitis: it is also a favourable habitat for acanthamoeba keratitis, the inflammation of the cornea.
Viral conjunctivitis also becomes prolific in the summer, caused by an infection of the conjunctive surface. This is a much more problematic pathology. According to the ophthalmologist Gallego-Pinazo, more swelling and discomfort occurs and this must be detected in time to prevent propagation. And the fact is that bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious, therefore towels should not be shared and constant hand-washing is also recommended.
How to prevent it
1.- Do not open your eyes underwater. Also, do not use contact lenses at the beach because they could become contaminated by bacteria and therefore, cause eye ailments.
2.- Clean your eyelids properly with a cotton wool ball, a dressing or a Q-tip and a specific soapy solution for the eye area twice a week or after a day at the pool or the beach. After a swim in the outdoors, it is a good idea to rinse your face with clean water.
3.- Use good quality sunglasses and cosmetics. The glasses must be acquired in specialised establishments and they must have the EC manufacturing certificate and the most suitable filter type for their use.
