Pay attention to your eye health during Carnival: see

The Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) recommends that revelers take special care and attention to their eyes during Carnival to avoid damage to their vision, protecting the eyes against chemical burns, for example, as well as trauma and infections.

According to doctor Elisabeth Guimarães, who is part of the CBO Scientific Committee, during carnival festivities, many people overindulge in drug and alcohol consumption. “They end up losing some consciousness and exposing themselves to risks ranging from eye trauma to involvement in fights that can result in facial trauma and progress to eye damage. There is little care,” said the specialist.

In carnival groups, people are exposed to the strong summer sun, the doctor highlighted, advising the use of visors, caps and hats to protect their eyes.

“Everyone is very welcome. Nowadays, the industry manufactures them with fabrics that already come with UV protection.” Furthermore, sunglasses are essential. “Even if they don’t match the costume, the person should wear it” to have guaranteed eye protection.

Another important issue is the sunscreens that people apply to their bodies and faces. Preference should be given to those products that are formulated for those who play sports, because the person sweats, but the product will not run or get into the eye. You can also use a stick facial protector that does not melt in the eye.

Makeup

Elisabeth recommended that revelers avoid contact with foam sprays in particular, which can be extremely irritating to the eyes. If this product comes into contact with the eye, ophthalmologists recommend that the person wash the area thoroughly with drinking water or mineral water. If the person is able and there is a pharmacy available, buy new saline solution, because opened saline solution becomes contaminated very easily due to the ambient heat.”

The eye must be washed until all residue is removed. If the pain persists and the eye remains red, the person should immediately seek an emergency room, preferably an ophthalmologist, so that a proper examination can be carried out, said the specialist.

As for makeup, which at Carnival tends to be more elaborate, with the use of a lot of eyeshadow, false eyelashes and glitter, the recommendation is to be careful with glue which, in the wrong quantity, can run into the eyes and burn the cornea. You also cannot forget to remove your makeup completely and properly.

Pay extra attention to the trendy eyelashes, which are made of LED and stick to the eyelid.

“That has some drawbacks. Because it’s a blinking business, people are curious to put their finger on it and this can bring microorganisms into their eyes, especially in the middle of a party. There is a risk of conjunctivitis spreading, because there are a lot of people together, it’s a crowd, it’s dirty hands”,

highlighted the doctor.

You should avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, to avoid catching viruses and bacteria for free. Elisabeth Guimarães highlighted that many of these eyelashes are imported, some have dubious origins and can cause problems.

As Carnival is a time of glitter, most revelers like to be careful when using glitter. When it has large particles, if it falls into the eye, it is easier to identify. According to the doctor, the problem is the small glitter, similar to sand. “It moves more easily into the eye. If this happens, the advice is the same as for foam: wash thoroughly. If you notice that there is still something stuck in your eye, do not try to remove it because, sometimes, the attempt and emotion can cause damage to the cornea, and this is a case of emergency room care.”

The person can use lubricating eye drops to try to ensure that the amount of tears itself is able to expel that residue. “But this is not always possible”, he warned.

Contact lenses

Regarding contact lenses, if they are soft, they can stick to the eye and cause dehydration if used excessively, said the doctor. “You should not sleep with these lenses, because the risk of infection increases. And if you add contact lenses and makeup, this is an explosive combination at bedtime.” Elisabeth advises those who use soft contact lenses to exchange them for disposable ones, for daily use, during Carnival. Take it out of the packaging to use it and, once you see it, it goes in the trash. “It’s healthier for the eye. This prevents reusing lenses that are contaminated or soiled with makeup residue that did not come off with cleaning products.”

Another tip is to put on your lenses before doing your makeup and take them off before removing them. This prevents lens contamination. “The problem is that some type of makeup residue can remain on the lens and cause allergic, infectious and irritating problems for the eyes.” Elisabeth drew attention to another precaution: contact lenses can never be shared.

According to the specialist, the contact lens is in intimate contact with the cornea, with the person’s tears, and becomes a medical device that becomes contaminated from the moment it comes into contact with the tear. Regarding colored contact lenses, which are shared among young people as a costume accessory, she warned: “this type of behavior can cause very serious problems if the lenses are used improperly. The same goes for makeup. Everyone must have their own”, said the expert.

Other care

According to the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology, it is necessary to avoid opening your eyes when diving in the sea, rivers or chlorinated swimming pools and, preferably, not to use contact lenses when falling into the water, as there is a risk of contamination by Acanthamoeba, a rare eye infection, but which can be serious and cause permanent damage to vision. Elisabeth Guimarães said that this is a difficult animal to diagnose and treat and that, sometimes, the prognosis is not always happy.

“If you cannot avoid being in such an environment, the option should be to use daily disposable lenses. Eyes were not made to come into contact with water.”

As for hair styling ointments, the advice is to give preference to those authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), as many are cheaper and easier to find, but may contain substances that cause irritation and even chemical burns to the eyes.

The CBO also highlights the importance of hydration and a healthy diet for eye health. Staying well hydrated is essential to ensure proper functioning of the tear system and prevent symptoms of dry eye.

According to the institution, if eye discomfort persists even after adopting measures such as eye washing, three signs can alert you to the presence of problems: redness, intense pain or blurred vision. In any of these cases, it is best to seek medical assistance so that the problem does not worsen. Persistent redness may indicate irritation or infection, and severe pain may be a symptom of serious injuries or conditions. Sudden changes, such as blurred vision or visual loss, require immediate attention, the CBO warned.

Read more:

Kissing disease and infections: find out how to prevent and take care of yourself during Carnival

Glitter used at Carnival contaminates the Environment; see study