ITAHARI: Koshi Province has observed a significant rise in the number of eye patients in recent days. Along with the provincial headquarters Biratnagar, major cities like Itahari, Dharan, Inaruwa, Birtamod, Damak, and other hilly districts, have witnessed a rise in the number of eye patients.
According to the provincial health ministry, the majority of affected individuals are children. Health professionals say eye infection is rapidly spreading in the community from children attending school to patients seeking treatment at hospitals.
Ophthalmologists say that adenovirus is causing eye infections. They say that the virus, which becomes more active during the monsoon, is behind the cases of eye infections and dry eyes in the province. Environmental factors like changes in weather, increased dust and smoke content in the air, and lack of eye protection have contributed to this epidemic, they added.
Children with the infection exhibit symptoms such as redness, watery discharge, aversion to light, swelling, excessive pain, and difficulty seeing.
In response to the growing eye health concerns, a free eye camp was organized at Modern Preparatory Secondary School in Itahari-6 on Wednesday. The eye camp, organized in collaboration with Biratnagar Eye Hospital, aimed to provide free eye check-ups to students, parents, teachers, and community members. The co-principal of the school, Ramesh Niraula, said that the school organized the free eye camp so that students get early treatment and their study is not affected. “More than 300 people benefited from the camp. The camp will be organized again on Sunday,” he added.
Manish Kumar Khawas, a health professional at Biratnagar Eye Hospital, said that eye infections have been rising primarily due to the polluted environment. “As a communicable disease, eye infections can be easily transmitted at any time. To prevent the spread of the infection, people should keep their eyes clean with cold water, avoid close contact with others, and refrain from sharing clothes and handkerchiefs with others,” he added.
According to Kahwas, the hospital is receiving up to 1,500 eye patients daily, a notable increase from the usual 1,000 patients on a normal day. “This type of viral eye disease typically lasts for one to one and a half months,” he added.
The hospital provides glasses worth up to Rs 1,200 to patients free of cost. Likewise, cataract patients benefit from services such as lens and eye tests worth Rs 12,000 at no charge.
