The monsoon season brings welcome relief from summer heat, but it also increases humidity, moisture, and the risk of infections, especially eye infections. If you’ve recently undergone SILK (Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratoplasty) eye surgery, taking extra care of your eyes during this season becomes crucial.
SILK is a minimally invasive procedure designed to provide speedier recovery and less discomfort than traditional LASIK procedures. Nevertheless, the eye surface continues to heal after the procedure leaving the eye susceptible to greater risk from the monsoon's wet climate.
In this blog, we will detail necessary monsoon care for SILK patients, risk factors, warning signs of eye infections, and general care for better healing.
Why Post-SILK Patients Should Be Attentive to Eye Care During Monsoon Season;
During the healing process after SILK surgery your corneal surface has not healed completely. Exposure to too much moisture, and exposure to dust and dirty water can lead to itching, dryness, or worse - an eye infection. One of the worst outcomes is infections such as microbial keratitis, which occurs when bacteria, fungi or viruses enter the eye by means of dirty water or unclean hands.
This is why the prevention of Monsoon eye infection should be first and foremost in mind after eye surgery.
Common Eye Issues During Monsoon (Esp Post Eye Surgery)
•Conjunctivitis (Eye Flu) - This condition is highly contagious and spreads through contacts and droplets.
•Keratitis - This is an infection of the cornea that occurs due to improper hygiene or contaminants.
•Stye or eyelid infections - Again, this occurs due to either overactive oil glands mixes with bacteria.
•Allergic infection - This occurs from humidity causing irritation or dryness.
Useful Monsoon Care After SILK Eye Surgery:
1.Maintain Clean and Dry Hands:
Your eyes are more vulnerable at this time after SILK surgery.Always remember to wash your hands with soap before touching your eyes or putting in eye drops. And don't rub your eyes!
Hack: While traveling, keep some sanitizer handy so your don't touch your eyes with unclean hands!
2. Protect Your Eyes While Outside
Bring sunglasses or protective glasses while going out in the monsoon season. Even light drizzle can deliver pollutants or germ in the eyes, which are not good for eyes that are recovering.
And, bring some UV protected glasses for the monsoon season!
If you eyes get wet with rain droplets or splashes, wipe your eyes gently with a sterile tissue (do not rub!).
3. Avoid Tap Water for Eye Cleaning
Post SILK, it is worth avoiding using tap water to wash your face-- and therefore eyes-- out of caution because of the risk for contamination.
Instead, use sterile saline wipes or clean water recommended by your doctor.
You should never place your eye directly under the tap in the monsoon.
4. Stick to Your Prescribed Routine
Antibiotic eye drops and lubricants will be part of your post SILK care. You should not alter dosing or lessen use without your doctor's guidance. The monsoon mean humidity along with added microbes makes your eyes more vulnerable.
5. Avoid Towels & Handkerchiefs for Eye Wiping
Moist towels and handkerchiefs are an excellent habitat for injurious bacteria and fungi. Instead, use sterile tissues to wipe the eye. During the monsoon, pillowcases and bedding will be more relevant, as you are likely to sweat while sleeping.
6. Avoid Swimming and Rain
Regardless of whether it is swimming pool water or rain water, you should avoid all direct exposure to water for at least 3-4 weeks.This greatly decreases the likelihood of infections or irritation.
7. Boost Your Immunity
Eating immune-boosting foods such as
- Citrus fruits,
- Leafy greens,
- Vegetables rich in Vitamin A (carrots, spinach),
- Stay hydrated by drinking pure filtered water.
Performing healthy → and speedy recovery → will improve your body's resistance against feeling unwell.
8. Follow Up With your Eye Surgeon
It is important to regularly follow up with your eye surgeon. ***If you notice any sign of redness, irritation, excessive tearing, or improvement in vision, don’t wait. Call your doctor right away.
Eye surgeries such as the SILK intervention/have almost no complication, however, the rainy season increases the risk of infection.
9. Use a Cool Compress If Advised
Slight irritation or itching should not be rubbed or aggravated. It is a good idea to have a cold sterile compress, or even use prescription lubricating drops you received from your doctor.
10. Do Not Self-Medicate
- Even if you believe you know which eye drops to take, a visit to your eye surgeon for medical advice will result in the best possible outcome.
- Never self-administer over-the-counter eye drops, especially steroid-based drops unless directed by your physician.
- Using eye drops to self-treat the eye can have undesirable consequences, post-eye surgery! Using the wrong drops during the healing process /could/will lead to severe, undesirable, complications such as corneal melt or worse yet, delayed healing.
Signs of Eye Infection to Pay Attention to
If you experience any of the following symptoms during the monsoon season after SILK eye surgery, please consult with your eye surgeon immediately:
- Persistent redness,
- Pain in or around the eye,
- Excessive tearing/discharge,
- Blurry/reduced vision,
- Photophobia (sensitivity to light),
- Unusually dry or discomfort.
The sooner an eye infection is identified and treated, the more likely your vision will remain protected, and the cornea will heal perfectly.
- Some Dos and Don'ts for Lifestyle During Monsoon (Post-SILK Eye Surgery)
- Recovering from SILK eye surgery during the monsoon season is a careful, mindful care process and adopting practices like clean hands, not exposing yourself to water, frequent sterilized wipes, and heeded advice of your surgeon goes a long way in responding to a healing process and protecting your vision.
If you have undergone SILK recently and would like expert post-operative support or have a concern about preventing monsoon considered infections of the eye, we recommend contacting our specialists at The Eye Foundation.
Taking proper care of your vision should take a central role in your life, best yet throughout any time of the year; it is imperative to the rainy season!
You can easily remind yourself to contact The Eye Foundation to ensure your eyes remain healthy, safe, rest assured in a ready and potentially, infection free condition this rainy season!
Book an appointment soon at The Eye Foundation to ensure your eyesight remains protected this rainy season!!
