Eye drops for sore eyes getting scarce in Legazpi City due to rising number of cases

Published September 10, 2015 9:08am

(Updated 10:47 a.m.) With the growing number of residents having sore eyes, eye drops have become scarce in Legazpi City in Albay, a report on Unang Balita on Thursday said.

The warm weather has led to the increase in the number of cases, the report said.

The City Health Office of Legazpi City advised residents to wash their hands regularly to avoid getting sick.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has warned the public from buying eye drops in sidewalks.

It said it would be better to buy eye drops in drugstores to ensure these are not fake.

Sore eyes—more accurately, conjunctivitis or pinkeye—is described by the DOH as a redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjunctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the inner parts of the eyelids. It is usually caused by an adenovirus and is highly contagious.

Symptoms include eye redness and itching; a watery pus or discharge from the eyes; and eyelids that are stuck together when waking up. Severe cases may involve pain of the eyes when exposed to sunlight and foreign-body solutions, the department said in a previous advisory.

Infection usually lasts from 5 to 12 days.

A recent outbreak of sore eyes cases was reported in Guinobatan, Albay. —KG, GMA News

Tags: soreeyes, albay