About 50 cases registered in one day in the city at public and private hospitals and clinics; doctors advise use of sanitiser or washing hands regularly with soap
Viral and bacterial eye infections are on an alarming rise in the city, thanks to high humidity and excessive use of mobile phones and laptops.
Conjunctivitis, a highly contagious viral infection of the eyes, is rapidly increasing in the city, since two weeks, inform eye specialists, further warning to recurrently wash hands and use hand sanitisers every time you touch your eyes, especially after using your mobile phone, laptop or office computer.
The viral and bacterial germs that spread conjunctivitis thrive on surfaces of these gadgets and rapidly spread the infection from one family to the other and one office to the next.
Dr Deepak Mehta, director of M and J Institute of Ophthalmology, at city's Civil Hospital said, "A steady rise of conjunctivitis cases is noted since two weeks and from about 200 odd patients that have visited me, 50 of them are infected with various viral and bacterial forms of conjunctivitis."
The cases are on a rapid rise due to high levels of humidity in the atmosphere, which serves as a perfect environment for these infectious germs to grow; and the constant use of mobile phones, laptops and office computers have just added to the spread.
"Surfaces of these gadgets like mobile phones, i-pods or laptops are the thriving places for infection causing germs to survive and spread," informed Dr Pravin Bhavsar, a senior ophthalmologist, who confirmed a 40 percent rise in private eye hospitals in the city, for cases registered under conjunctivitis.
"Many do not wash hands before touching their eyes and the hand contact is the prime and only way in which, the viral and bacterial mechanisms spread and cause conjunctivitis," added Bhavsar.
This season the monsoons have come down quite strongly, and hence due to high level of humidity in the atmosphere, spread of conjunctivitis has also increased, as against the previous years, inform experts.
Dr Bakulesh Khamar, an eye specialist, said, "Conjunctivitis cases have increased, every monsoon and the seasonal rise too is common.
However, this year, the cases have rapidly gone up, as compared to the last few seasons, mainly due to high level of humidity in the atmosphere, which was not the case in the past."
Experts advocate that, to curb this highly contagious eye infection, the only remedy is constant use of hand sanitisers and recurrent hand wash. "This infection is highly contagious and one needs to be aware that it spreads with touch," added Dr Bhavsar.
In their advice to patients suffering from conjunctivitis, eye specialists have warned them from stepping outside their homes for at least three to five days and also limit their contact with the people.
"Patients, including children and adults are advised to refrain from visiting public places and share mobile phones or other gadgets with others, while being affected with conjunctivitis," advised Bhavsar.
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