Water Quality and Eye Health

If you have never experienced a problem with your eyes, then you likely don’t spend very much time appreciating your vision. Of all the five senses, the eyes are the most vital but also one of the most easily damaged sensory organs.

Good vision depends on various parts of the eye, all working correctly with one another. When one of these components is damaged the whole system can be thrown off completely. Even something as seemingly harmless as water can have a big impact on your vision. This guide is here to help you learn more about how water quality can affect eye health.

What Is Water Quality?

Many factors can be determined by water quality, such as the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the levels of bacteria, salt, and suspended materials present in water. In some places, water quality is also affected by the presence of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other continents.

Poor water quality can be a real threat to people’s health and ecosystems. As the eye is one of the body’s most sensitive organs, it is particularly susceptible to poor water quality.

Eye Irritation and Water Contaminants

Water contamination has been found to cause conjunctivitis, a condition more commonly known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the inner eyelid surface. Not only is conjunctivitis highly contagious, but it can be pretty uncomfortable too. Causing your eyes to become watery, red, itchy, and produce a sticky discharge. Drinking contaminated water can cause chronic conjunctivitis. To prevent this, you should make sure that your drinking water is filtered from heavy metals, chemicals, and other contaminants.

Post-Surgery Care

Some types of eye conditions, like cataracts, require routine cataract lens implant surgery. You have to be very careful with your eyes post-surgery, particularly avoiding contact with water.

Your ophthalmologist will recommend that you do not let any type of water, including sterile water, in your eye for some time, usually a few days, after the surgery has occurred. After a certain period, you will be allowed to start washing your eyes again; however, you must be aware of water quality. This is because your eyes will be particularly sensitive after surgery and will therefore be more vulnerable to infections and the bacteria carried in low-quality water.

Water Pollution and Issues with Eye Health

Studies have found that there are many eye diseases like retinal bleeding and cataracts that can be affected by exposure to low-quality water. Particularly the toxic pollution, bacteria, and heavy metals that contaminate in low-quality water.

Diabetes

Diabetes can be impacted by a range of factors, such as genetic predisposition, food, and water intake. Research has found that drinking contaminated water can increase the risks and complications of diabetes. One of the most common forms of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy, which affects the blood vessels in the eyes and overall eye health. Avoid intaking contaminated water to avoid the risks of diabetes and the complications it can cause to eye health. 

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