KARACHI: Renowned Karachi-based ophthalmologist Dr Sami ur Rehman, has raised alarm bells regarding the notably higher incidence of conjunctivitis, colloquially known as "pink eye," in the city this year, surpassing previous records, mainly blaming the poor sanitation in the Sindh capital for it.
This contagious eye ailment has left a significant number of Karachi's residents grappling with its symptoms, leading to a surge in reported cases.
In an exclusive conversation with Medical News, Dr Sami shared that the Pakistan Eye Bank Society (PEBS) Hospital is currently inundated with a daily influx of 100 to 150 patients suffering from conjunctivitis. Moreover, cases of pink eye have been pouring in from various public and private healthcare facilities across Karachi.
Typically, the duration of conjunctivitis symptoms extends to 7 to 8 days from their initial onset, with no apparent gender bias, impacting both men and women alike. Nevertheless, Dr Sami noted that children appear to be less susceptible to this ailment.
In terms of treatment, patients diagnosed with conjunctivitis are receiving antibiotic eye drops upon the manifestation of initial symptoms. Dr Sami cautioned against self-medication for conjunctivitis and strongly discouraged the use of rose water (Arq e Gulab), as it could potentially lead to bacterial eye infections.
This viral eye infection tends to proliferate during the monsoon or rainy season, with the highest number of cases reported in the months of August and September. Dr Sami attributed this spread to unsanitary conditions, including the presence of garbage heaps, open sewage drains, and poor sanitation practices.
Furthermore, to curb the transmission of conjunctivitis, the senior ophthalmologist advised infected individuals to refrain from handshakes and sharing personal towels.
Notably, most cases of conjunctivitis have been reported in suburban areas of Karachi, including Surjani, New Karachi, Sohrab Goth, Orangi Town, North Nazimabad, and various other localities.
Dr Sami also provided a glimmer of hope, indicating that the number of conjunctivitis cases has started to decline in recent days and is expected to continue diminishing in the weeks to come. He implored the public to seek medical guidance from qualified physicians or eye specialists instead of resorting to self-medication.
Due to the absence of a comprehensive data collection mechanism in the city, it remains challenging to estimate the precise percentage of Karachi's population affected by conjunctivitis. Nevertheless, it is unmistakable that a significant segment of the population suffers from the viral eye infection this year, surpassing previous records.
