Overview
- Air quality monitors on Thursday recorded an AQI of 352 in Delhi, placing conditions in the hazardous range as a dense smog layer persisted.
- Ophthalmology clinics report a 50–60% increase in patients with dryness, burning, watering, itching, and a gritty sensation in the eyes.
- Doctors attribute the spike to fine particulates and chemical pollutants settling on the ocular surface and inflaming tissues that rely on a healthy tear film.
- Children, older adults, outdoor workers, contact lens users, and people wearing heavy eye makeup are flagged as especially vulnerable to irritation and infection.
- Clinicians urge immediate precautions including lubricating drops, protective eyewear, avoiding contact lenses and eye rubbing, limiting outdoor exposure, and seeking care for persistent symptoms, while one expert warns of possible long-term corneal damage if high pollution continues.