TOXIC AIR WORSENING EYE HEALTH

Pollution's toxins escalate eye irritation, allergies, vision-risks

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Even as the national capital continues to battle poor air quality, experts recently said that the toxic pollutants are raising dry eyes, irritations, and allergies in the eyes of children and adults.

On a Wednesday earlier this month, Delhi's air quality remained in the "severe" category with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 427 at 10 am, making it the most polluted city in India, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

"Pollution poses a serious threat to our eyes, particularly to the conjunctiva and the cornea, which is the first point of contact with harmful particles in the air. The fine particulate matter, allergens, and toxins in polluted environments can irritate the ocular surface and make it highly susceptible to infections," said Dr. Rohit Saxena, professor of ophthalmology, RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS New Delhi.