Eye health risks during heatwaves

Delhi has been enduring a severe heatwave over the past two weeks, with Mungeshpur in the city’s northwest experiencing temperatures as high as 52.9 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat has led to health concerns, including heatstroke, which resulted in a fatality. Additionally, the intense heat has raised alarms about eye health, specifically the risk of eye stroke.

Eye stroke, or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, occurs due to insufficient blood flow to the tissues in the front part of the optic nerve, as stated by Penn Medicine. When the blockage happens where blood vessels exit the optic nerve and reach the retina, it’s termed central or branch retinal artery occlusion. This condition can lead to a sudden loss of vision.