RAWALPINDI, Aug 4: Widespread occurrence of viral eye infection, Kerato conjunctivitis, also known as “Aashobe Chashm” in local parlance, has been reported from different parts of the twin cities.

Dr Tahir Sharif, an ophthalmologist at Holy Family Hospital, told this reporter that the disease was spreading rapidly.

He said he had come across certain cases, wherein the entire family was suffering from this problem.

He said the symptoms might vary from patient to patient, but the most common were severe watering of eyes, itching, irritation, redness, swelling of eyelids, thick discharge from the eyes, vision disturbances and possible flu or fever like conditions.

He said in severe conditions, the eyes might give a sub- conjunctival haemorrhage appearance.

The disease, Dr Sharif said, mostly spread through physical contact with the infected person or with items being used by the patient. The best remedy, therefore, was avoiding direct physical contact with the people suspected to be suffering from the problem, he added.

The ophthalmologist said children were more prone to the disease because of lesser resistance. He said the infection was more common in rainy season.

He advised the infected persons to wash their eyes regularly with cold water and to keep them clean. The patients, he said, should also wear sun glasses and consult some eye specialist immediately.

He said the normal span of the disease was almost a week.

Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Dr Farooq Afzal, an eye specialists at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) talking to Dawn, said: “The seriousness of the disease can be gauged from the fact that the hospital is daily receiving 20 to 25 patients suffering with this eye infection.”

He said the hot and humid weather also played a role in spreading the disease, because due to sweating or irritation, people tended to touch their eyes, and if their hands were infected, they could catch the infection immediately.

Dr Afzal said the viral conjunctival infections were thought to be caused by airborne respiratory droplets or direct transfer from one’s fingers to the conjunctival surface of the eyelids. After an incubation period of five to 12 days, the disease enters the acute phase, causing watery discharge and conjunctival hyperemia, he said.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Wasim, a patient, said: “I cannot remember how I contracted the disease which has forced me to avoid attending my office for a week.”