Monsoon eye care: Why you should never rub your eyes when they itch

The onset of monsoon brings relief from the summer heat, but also tends to bring with it a set of eye problems. The humid weather may contribute to increased sweating, which in turn causes oil and debris to accumulate in the eyelid margins.

Eyelid hygiene is also compromised in such weather conditions. The glands in the eyelids get blocked, predisposing them to infections like styes. Styes are painful, red bumps on the eyelids due to infection of the oil glands or eyelash follicle. Conjunctivitis as well as flare-ups of eye allergies are common in the rainy season. This may lead to an aggravated feeling of itching and watering.

Are you supposed to rub your eyes?

All these together may make a person tend to rub their eyes for relief. But this can make the situation worse. Repeated touching or rubbing of eyes with unclean or unwashed hands can transfer bacteria and other organisms to the eyelids, leading to styes. The bacteria that are normally present on the skin around the eyes may also get transferred onto the glands or lash follicles. Not only that, rubbing can irritate a stye and increase the swelling and pain. This can delay recovery. The bacteria can also get transferred to other glands of the same eye or the other eye and cause multiple styes. Squeezing or bursting a stye can be dangerous as it can spread the swelling and infection into the deeper tissues.

What can be done?

There are many home remedies that people try for styes. Avoid putting substances such as kajal, rose water, turmeric paste, neem leaves or toothpaste into or around the eye, as they may cause irritation or worsen the condition.

The most effective remedy for a stye is doing warm compresses. It encourages drainage of the blocked gland, giving faster relief. This should be done with a clean cloth/cotton pad soaked in clean, warm water. A sterile eye wipe can be used to clean the eyelid margins.

Following these simple habits can help reduce your risk of getting recurrent styes and other eye infections:

-Avoid touching and rubbing eyes

-Get your spectacle prescription checked by an ophthalmologist

-Wash hands frequently with soap and water

-Avoid sharing eye makeup and towels

-Remove eye makeup completely before sleeping

-Use lubricants for dry and irritated eyes

-Avoid wearing contact lenses.

In most uncomplicated cases, warm compresses and good eyelid hygiene may be sufficient. If the infection persists or the ophthalmologist considers it necessary, antibiotic treatment may be prescribed.

(The author is a consultant cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chembur)

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.