When haze leaves your eyes red, dry and gritty

Whenever the haze returns, most health advice focuses on the lungs – wear a mask, stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

But many people forget that the eyes are directly exposed to the same polluted air. Unlike internal organs, the ocular surface has little physical protection beyond the eyelids and a thin layer of tears, which means airborne particles and chemicals can come into immediate contact with delicate tissue.

Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Siva Kumar Sundralingam of Columbia Asia Hospital Klang said this exposure can affect both short-term comfort and, with repeated or prolonged exposure, longer-term eye health.

Haze typically contains a mixture of fine and coarse particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and other chemical compounds from sources such as fires, vehicle emissions and industrial activity.

These substances can dissolve into or settle on the tear film, the thin layer of moisture that coats the cornea and conjunctiva, disturbing the eye’s normal protective balance.

Here are some of the main ways haze can affect the eyes, and what you can do about it.

1. Have can trigger redness, itching and a gritty sensation

The conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white of the eye, is particularly vulnerable to chemical and particulate irritation. When pollutants settle on its surface, they can provoke inflammation, leading to redness, burning, itching, excessive tearing, and the sensation of having sand or grit trapped beneath the eyelids.

For people who already have allergic conjunctivitis or sensitive eyes, symptoms may become more pronounced when air quality deteriorates.

2. It can destabilise the tear film

Healthy tears are more complex than they appear: the tear film contains mucus, which helps tears adhere to the eye, a watery layer that provides hydration, and an oily layer that slows evaporation.

Pollutants can interfere with the oily surface layer, causing tears to evaporate more quickly and leaving the cornea exposed and sensitive. This is one reason haze may aggravate dry-eye symptoms such as stinging, burning and intermittent blurred vision.

In people with existing dry-eye disease, prolonged exposure may further contribute to dysfunction of the glands that produce the oils needed to keep the tear film stable.

3. Fine particles may make eye rubbing more harmful

PM2.5 refers to particles measuring 2.5 micrometres or less – small enough to remain suspended in the air and settle on exposed surfaces, including around the eyes and beneath the eyelids. Once trapped there, they can provoke irritation and the urge to rub.

Repeated rubbing may drag particles across the cornea and cause tiny abrasions, potentially increasing the risk of infection.

If your eyes feel itchy, rinsing your face, using lubricating drops or applying a cold compress is generally safer than rubbing them.

4. Prolonged exposure could lead to chronic eye problems

Most haze-related irritation is temporary, but repeated exposure to heavily polluted air may have more persistent effects. As mentioned above, chronic inflammation can worsen dry-eye disease and may impair the glands that keep tears from evaporating too quickly.

Prolonged chemical irritation may damage the outer cells of the cornea, which, in severe or persistent cases, can affect visual clarity.

Environmental exposure may also contribute to the development of non-cancerous growths on the conjunctiva, particularly when haze exposure is combined with ultraviolet light.

5. Protective eyewear can help reduce exposure

Ordinary spectacles provide protection to a limited degree because air and particles can still circulate around the lenses. Instead, try wraparound sunglasses or protective goggles, which offer broader coverage and can help reduce direct exposure to airborne irritants and wind.

The most effective step, of course, is to reduce exposure altogether where possible. Staying indoors during haze, keeping windows closed, and using an air purifier with appropriate filtration can help.

6. Artificial tears help restore comfort

Preservative-free lubricating eye drops can rinse away trapped irritants while restoring moisture to a tear film disrupted by pollution. They may be especially useful during haze episodes for those who experience dryness, grittiness or mild burning.

Contact lens wearers, however, should be more cautious: soft lenses can trap fine particles against the corneal surface, potentially worsening irritation. Switching temporarily to spectacles may be a better option until air quality improves.

7. Some symptoms need more than home care

Mild irritation usually improves once exposure falls and the eyes have a chance to recover. But persistent or severe eye pain, marked sensitivity to light, discharge or ongoing blurred vision should be assessed by an eyecare professional.

Those symptoms may indicate more significant inflammation, corneal injury or infection, rather than simple haze-related discomfort.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.