In summer, excess sweat ends up carrying particles from products used on the face, such as sunscreen, into the eyes.
EINSTEIN AGENCY – Who has never felt a burning in the eyes when you’re inside beach or inside pool? This sensation is usually accompanied by red eyes, watery eyes and irritation and can signal a toxic conjunctivitis. This condition is quite common and occurs when there is direct damage to the eyes caused by an external agent: it can be continuous eye drops, sunscreen, makeup and even the vapor from the spray that is applied to the hair.
In general terms, toxic conjunctivitis is a inflammation of the conjunctiva – a thin and transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eyes (sclera) and whose function is precisely to protect the ocular surface from external agents and maintain lubrication of the eyes, preventing them from drying out.
“Toxic conjunctivitis is an attack that affects both the cornea and the conjunctiva. It causes a condition very similar to conjunctivitis of other etiologies, both viral and bacterial. The main difference is that there is this causal factor of contact of a specific substance in the eye“, explained the ophthalmologist Adriano Biondi, of the Israelita Albert Einstein Hospital.
According to Biondi, toxic conjunctivitis is a little confused with allergic and infectious conjunctivitis caused by viruses: it presents a slightly more irritating condition, the eyelids become a little more swollen, the eye becomes red, with watery tears that can hinder the vision and cause keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). It differs from bacterial conjunctivitis, where there is a more exuberant purulent secretion. The doctor explains that toxic conjunctivitis is not contagious, since it is caused by a chemical agent and not by a microorganism.
In summer, cases tend to occur more frequently because excess sweat ends up carrying particles from products used on the face (and even vapors from these products), especially sunscreen, into the eyes. A study carried out by the Penido Burnier Institute, based on the medical records of 270 patients who presented with conjunctivitis in the summer, indicated that 20% of these cases were toxic conjunctivitis. Of these, 46% were caused by sunscreen getting into the eyes, 39% by tanning lotions and face creams, and 15% by makeup and false eyelash glue.
But, according to the doctors interviewed by Agência Einstein, you shouldn’t stop using sunscreen on your face, on the contrary. Sun protection is essential. The recommendation is to use the protector correctlyavoiding excessive application around the eyes so that the product does not run off with sweat.
“When you use sunscreen on your face, spread it well and don’t let it build up on your eyebrows because it could make it easier for it to come out and come into contact with your eyes. Using sunscreen for children is also a good option to protect your face because they do not contain substances that irritate the eyes. Today there are also ophthalmologically recommended filters”, explains ophthalmologist Leôncio Queiroz Neto, who also underlines the importance of using physical barriers for protection, such as wearing a hat, bandana and glasses that have a filter UVA and UVB on lenses.
The diagnosis of toxic conjunctivitis is clinical, made on the basis of the patient’s report and the examination in the office. During the evaluation the doctor is able to identify more specific characteristics, without the need for a more specific exam. Once diagnosed, treatment essentially consists of isolating the causative agent, so a medical evaluation is important to correctly direct treatment.
The main recommendation is to wash your face thoroughly with cold water in case of eye irritation during sun exposure. For greater relief, more sensitive people can apply cold compresses with clean, cool, ice-cold water: it can be mineral water or even a saline solution. If it develops into allergic conjunctivitis, it must be treated with drugs, always following the doctor’s advice. “Eye drops are available over the counter, but should not be used alone in the eyes. Some eye drops contain corticosteroids and prolonged use can lead to glaucoma or cataracts,” warned Queiroz Neto.
Recurrent use of eye drops
Another very common cause of toxic conjunctivitis is the chronic use of some eye drops indicated for the treatment of glaucoma: some of them contain substances that can become irritating due to prolonged use. If this is the cause of conjunctivitis, the recommendation is to discontinue use and replace it with something that does not give symptoms of the disease.
“To avoid this type of reaction in the eye, some laboratories have created eye drops without preservatives [as substâncias que levam à irritação] for those who require regular, chronic use, especially people with dry eyes and who use artificial tears. Today there are several options of artificial tears that do not contain these preservatives and this ensures that prolonged and repeated use does not cause toxic conjunctivitis”, concluded Biondi.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
