2. Smog:
Smog is combination of "smoke and fog."
Effects of Air Pollution:
We all know that air pollution can be detrimental to human health, but we
tend to focus more on respiratory issues, heart diseases, inflammation,
and lung cancer.
But how air pollution affects the eyes?
3. The most dangerous types of air
pollutants
When we’re talking
about air pollution and
eye health, we should
learn more about the
main chemicals that
are present in most
cities and trigger the
most damage.
They include carbon monoxide
(CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO),
sulfur dioxide (SO2), asbestos,
benzene, particulate matter,
arsenic, lead, dioxin, and
chlorofluorocarbons. Smoke is
another irritant, and when it
comes into contact with the eyes,
its tiny particles can melt into
your tears, coating the surface
of the eye and causing adverse
effects.
4. Air pollution and
eye – irritating
effects
The cornea is the
most sensitive
structure in the
human body due to
numerous
innervations in the
ocular surface and
thus is extremely
sensitive to
environmental agents
6. visual difficulties may appear with
impaired color vision and
refractive errors. In some people,
air pollution can trigger allergy
with redness, itching, discharge,
and swelling of the eyes
(sometimes even with difficulty in
opening them).
7. Effect of long-term exposure to air
pollution:
The most common issue people experience because of air pollution
is dry eye syndrome (DES). It happens when the eye isn’t able to
produce enough tears, and, as a result, it can’t be moistened and
nourished properly. Redness, soreness, and inflammation appear,
and the eyes become sensitive to light, wind, and smoke.
Sometimes mucus forms around the eyeballs too. The most
dangerous air pollution and eye health effects include cataracts and
cancer.
8. Dealing with eye irritation from air pollution
Whenever you can, stay inside when
the levels of pollution are high, and if
you do have to go out, wear glasses
(not contact lenses) – they will block
the dust and prevent it from irritating
you. If you can’t manage to avoid
irritation, apply a cool compress over
your eyes and use some lubricating eye
drops.
