Pollen reactions cause eye issues: experts
It said this rise in pollen concentration has resulted in a corresponding surge in allergy-related symptoms among the local population. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi, senior consultant, Dr Inam-ul-Haq, said that residents should take preventive measures, such as wearing protective sunglasses, to reduce the effects of high pollen exposure.
He added that those with pre-existing allergies or asthma must take additional preventive measures and use air purifiers. "The spring season has unfolded, and pollen allergies can trigger a range of eye-related symptoms, including red, itchy and burning eyes. These symptoms can be accompanied by excessive tearing, swelling and sensitivity to light," he said.
Eye allergies are not typically dangerous but can cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily activities. In most cases, eye allergies are also associated with other allergic reactions, such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose.
Dr Inam-ul-Haq said eye allergies occur when the immune system overreacts, producing antibodies that trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals. This reaction leads to inflammation, redness and excessive tearing.
He said the best approach to managing eye allergies is minimising exposure to allergens. He recommended preventive measures like staying indoors when pollen counts are high, keeping windows closed, using air conditioning to filter air and wearing protective sunglasses to prevent pollen from reaching the eyes.
The advised he gave was that people should shut car windows and use air conditioning to reduce allergen exposure. "Eyedrops like loteprednol (Alrex, Lotemax) treat eye allergies, however, they should be used only briefly because they can cause side effects. Seasonal pollen allergies can be uncomfortable but are manageable with the proper precautions and treatments," he said
"People should follow preventive strategies and consult an ophthalmologist when necessary.," he added, sharing that nearly 80 per cent of patients receive free treatment in all trust-run hospitals in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Kohat, Sukkur, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business Recorder
Alkhidmat opens 70th water filtration plant in Karachi
KARACHI: Alkhidmat Karachi has inaugurated its 70th water filtration plant in the megacity under its WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program, marking another step toward providing clean drinking water to underserved communities. The latest facility was opened in Model Colony, an area that now hosts four filtration plants operated by the organisation. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi General Secretary Taufiquddin Siddiqui, District Airport Ameer Muhammad Ashraf, WASH Program Director Gohar-ul-Islam, and other officials. A large number of locals were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Siddiqui praised Alkhidmat's consistent efforts to provide safe and accessible drinking water, highlighting that the organisation has also completed over 1,100 bore projects in underserved neighbourhoods. Mobile water vans are additionally deployed across Karachi to distribute water at public spots, including outside hospitals and government offices. Siddiqui also called for better water conservation practices, particularly the reuse of grey-water from households and mosques for gardening or replenishing groundwater through wells and boreholes. He urged mosque committees and the public to play a proactive role in conserving water. District Ameer Muhammad Ashraf commended the initiative but stressed that the provision of clean water is a fundamental government responsibility. 'While Alkhidmat's service is exemplary, access to clean water, healthcare, and education should be guaranteed by the state,' he said. Gohar-ul-Islam, head of the WASH program, shared insights into the organization's broader water initiatives. He noted that Alkhidmat runs its own water testing laboratory to ensure quality control and said clean water provision remains central to its public health mission. He appealed to philanthropists and donors to support the scaling up of such life-saving projects across Karachi. Alkhidmat's expanding network of water projects continues to serve thousands of families in Karachi, filling critical gaps where municipal supply systems fall short. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Homeless people scramble for survival
Listen to article Most of the people habitually complaining of the harsh weather or loadshedding schedule are comfortably resting on their memory foam mattresses in their air-conditioned rooms at night. However, for the homeless people spending their nights desperately seeking shelter while escaping police crackdowns, sleep takes over before they can even think about complaining. During the tenure of the previous elected government, Panah Gah or night shelter homes were established to help homeless people sleep safely at night. However, over the last three years, the Punjab government has shut down these facilities, as a result of which homeless people sleeping on roads and sidewalks are exposed to harsh weather conditions during the winter and summer months. In just Lahore alone, nearly 1,700 homeless people have lost their lives over the past three years. A homeless couple, Inam and Asiya, who now sleep near Lal Pul along the canal, shared their experience. 'A few years ago, we used to go to a shelter near the railway station at night where we'd get a bed and food. Then we'd go back to work the next morning. But for the last three years, the shelters have been shut. We've made a temporary place near Lal Pul. Sometimes the police hassle us, and we change our spot for a day or two. Although we can manage during the day, nights are our biggest enemy,' shared the couple. Edhi Foundation spokesperson Muhammad Younis Bhatti confirmed that the death rate among those sleeping on footpaths during the winter and summer months has significantly increased over the past three years, mainly due to the lack of shelters. 'Previously, shelters provided 8 to 10 hours of rest daily, but their closure has complicated the situation. In the summer, the footpaths are searing, while in winter, the frost intensifies the cold. Hence a spike in death occurs during these three to five months,' noted Bhatti. Read More: At least 12 killed, six injured in Lahore as rain lashes city According to sources of the Express Tribune, the highest number of unidentified deaths are reported from areas including Data Darbar, Bhati Gate, Tibbi City, Qila Gujar Singh, Muslim Town, Kahna, Shahdara, Kot Lakhpat, Lari Adda, Mozang, and Garden Town. While more than 170 permanent and temporary shelter homes were built across Punjab, including 13 in Lahore, there is now only one functional shelter home each in Multan, D.G. Khan, Taunsa Sharif, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha, and just six remain operational in Lahore. Director Social Welfare, Muzammil Yaar, revealed that more than 50 per cent of the shelter homes were initially built in collaboration with philanthropists, but over time, most of them were closed. 'Even some of the shelters originally run by the Social Welfare Department have been shut down. A shelter home has a staff of over 10 people and caters to over a 100 people daily. The government has not allocated a significant budget to expand the shelter network. As a result, in Lahore and across Punjab, the closure of shelters over the past three years has directly contributed to the rising death toll among homeless individuals, especially those exposed to harsh weather or struggling with drug addiction,' conceded Yaar. 'A significant percentage of deaths reported among the homeless occur due to drug abuse, which is worsened by extreme weather. Many of these individuals become addicted simply to kill time, and in the past three years, drug abuse among them has increased by over 40 per cent,' claimed Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, a drug rehabilitation consultant. In the meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Punjab government claimed that although in the past, temporary arrangements were made for sheltering homeless people, the current government was working on a permanent solution to the problem.
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Experts warn of rising diabetes-linked blindness
Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has raised serious concerns over the rising threat of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in Pakistan, linking it to the country's alarming surge in diabetes cases — now reportedly the highest in the world. Speaking to media on Tuesday, Dr Nadeem Qureshi, Head of the Retina Department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, warned that the increasing diabetes prevalence is fuelling a parallel spike in vision-threatening complications, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. "Prolonged uncontrolled blood sugar damages the retinal blood vessels and, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible vision loss," he said. He emphasized that early detection and routine screening are critical in preventing vision impairment.
