Hello Dear Friends,
Firstly, I just want to say that it’s absolutely wonderful for me to be able to get in touch with all of you through this blog. It’s amazing how this blog can serve as a medium which dissolves all boundaries of distance. Also, it enables us at Sanjeevan Clinic to share with the whole world our key takeaways which we have accumulated with each passing case! I have to admit – at first, just like most other people who ‘blog’ for the first time, I too was really skeptical about this whole concept as it was really new to me. But, with every passing word that I typed, it just grew on me that it’s best to simply embrace the ‘Winds of Change’.

So, while we’re on the topic of ‘winds’, I think it will be ideal for me to assert that the South-West Monsoon Winds have arrived; arrived and how actually! Being a true ‘Mumbaikar’, the monsoons hold a very special place in my heart. While I’ve heard many people complain that India doesn’t get to witness the full flair of seasons such as ‘Spring’ and ‘Autumn’, I in all honestly believe that our one-of-a-kind, blissful ‘Monsoon’ experience more than makes up for all of this. And it’s not just the showers, but also the picturesque views, a scent of purity from the earth and the air of pleasantness and serenity in our surroundings which make the monsoons truly beautiful.

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However, as beautiful as this season gets, it also brings with it a host of water and air-borne diseases. I’ve had a lot of patients rush to me during the monsoons with complaints of redness, pain, swelling, styes and ulcers. All of these complaints however are symptoms of ailments which are rampant in the monsoons. Ailments such as:
• Conjunctivitis – Symptoms: Redness, Pain & Swelling
• Eye Styes – Symptoms : Painful Lump along the eyelid
• Dry Eyes – Symptoms: Irritations, Blurring & Pain
• Corneal Ulcers – Symptoms: Pus Discharge & Severe Pain
Thus, I couldn’t think of a more essential topic to talk about than the small measures or precautions you can take this season to mitigate any chances of contracting the most widespread ailments during the monsoons:

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Some of the general tips that are useful for eye care during the monsoons are:-

1. Use an anti-bacterial lotion outdoors.
2. Blink your eyes consciously at regular intervals
3. Wash your eyes gently.
4. Articles of personal use such as handkerchiefs, towels, lenses, glasses carry highly contagious infections and shouldn’t be shared.
5. Use eye protection like glasses when exposed to wind or dust.
6. Avoid rubbing your eyes as that increases the chances of spreading the infection.
7. Never touch your eyes without washing your hands.
8. Avoid using any eye make-up and contact lenses during the monsoon season. Never share lens solution and containers with anyone and clean properly before and after use.
9. Just close your eyes when you decide to get soaked in the rain as it screens off atmospheric pollutants. While the rain water is reasonably clean, but you need to be wary of the rain water if you stand under a tree or a building, as it can be contaminated with pollutants, which could increase eye infections.
10. Do not use self-prescribed antibiotic eye drops.

So there you go – 10 easy steps to follow for a rather healthy monsoon this year.

However, I advise all of you to remember that even after following all these tips to the tee, it is possible to contract eye ailments during the monsoons due to certain external factors. Thus it is essential that if you feel/notice/spot an irritation/symptom, you immediately contact your eye doctor and not be lax about it.

So, keeping all of these things in mind, go on, enjoy the most gorgeous season of the year – The Monsoons!
Also, I just wanted to add that if you have any queries with regards to improving your eyesight, eye ailments etc., I will be glad to be of help to you. I can be reached via e-mail on [email protected].

Warm Regards,
Dr. K.K. Goyal
(Founder, Sanjeevan – For Perfect Eyesight)