Mumbai, October 15: Conjunctivitis cases are on the rise in Mumbai over the past two weeks and people must take precautions as well as timely visits to the doctor in case they experience pain or discomfort in their eyes, the civic body said on Saturday.

A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation statement said 250-300 conjunctivitis patients have been treated in the civic-run Murli Deora Eye Hospital in the last two weeks. Excessive Heat During Summers Can Damage Your Eyes, Say Experts.

"When humidity in the air increases during the rainy season, the environment becomes a breeding ground for infectious diseases. Conjunctivitis, along with other ailments, spread during this time," said Dr Varsha Rokde, chief health officer of Murli Deora Eye Hospital. World Hand Hygiene Day 2020: From Flu to Conjunctivitis, Infections You Can Prevent Apart From COVID-19 by Washing Your Hands Regularly!

"The eye gets watery and swollen and there is discharge of sticky fluid as well. Eyes get itchy and heavy and there is intolerance to strong light," Dr Rokde explained.

The BMC statement said those afflicted with the ailment must avoid touching their eyes frequently, wash them with water repeatedly and stay from others during the infection period.

While it gets cleared in five to six days, people must avoid home remedies and visit eye specialists, the civic body said, adding that conjunctivitis medicines were freely available at its hospitals.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)