This is a time when you can feel the spring spirit even in the chilly wind. After a long winter, spring is just nice to see. However, for a while, yellow dust, an uninvited guest of spring, is showing signs of hitting the whole country starting in March.
According to statistics compiled by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Seoul has experienced a total of 132 yellow dust outbreaks over the past 15 years, the highest rate of yellow dust among seven major cities in the country. This is much higher than the national average of 105 yellow dust outbreaks, and considering the incidence and population, Seoul is likely to be the biggest victim of yellow dust.
Since the past few years, yellow dust has frequently occurred, and various diseases such as conjunctivitis, dermatitis, and rhinitis caused by yellow dust have been on the rise, and as in any other year, more and more people are visiting ophthalmologists due to eye diseases caused by yellow dust.
These days, yellow dust is not just sand, but pollutants such as heavy metals are entangled, causing various diseases not only in the skin but also in the eyes and nose. Eye diseases caused by yellow dust include allergic conjunctivitis caused by yellow dust itself, irritating conjunctivitis caused by various types of heavy metals contained in yellow dust, and infectious conjunctivitis caused by viruses or bacteria penetrating by yellow dust.
Typical symptoms of these diseases are that the eyes itch a lot, constantly developing tears and bloodshot, and that there is a severe feeling of foreign matter that seems to have something in the eyes.
For treatment, it is best to block the yellow dust itself, which is a causative substance, but since it is difficult to apply in reality, the method and drug therapy of diluting the causative substance with artificial tears are most effective at present. Anti-inflammatory (steroids, etc.) eye drops and anti-allergic eye drops are used for drug therapy. If eye drops are used arbitrarily, they can develop into diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts, so care should be taken when using them. If accompanied by inflammation, inflammatory drugs and antibiotic eye drops can be administered.
When pollutants from yellow dust enter the eyes, it is important to prevent deterioration to eye diseases. The easiest way is to use artificial tears, but it is also recommended to use them after receiving an accurate diagnosis and prescription from an ophthalmologist.
"In addition to artificial tears, indiscriminate use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids can cause side effects from misuse, so it is necessary to visit an ophthalmologist to check the progress of symptoms after using the drug," he added.
In order to prevent allergic conjunctivitis, the best way is to avoid going outside on days when yellow dust is severe. However, those who usually use contact lenses should wear glasses instead of contact lenses for eye health because heavy metals and dust contained in yellow dust can adhere to the surface of the contact lenses, irritating conjunctiva and cornea, causing conjunctivitis or corneal wounds.
Always wash your eyes and hands clean after returning home. In addition, if you rub or touch your eyes often with your hands due to foreign substances caused by yellow dust or itching caused by allergies, you should be careful because your eyes may get hurt and symptoms may worsen.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
(Picture from Unsplash)