Ophthalmologist Claudio Vieira, from Hospital dos Olhos Visare in Presidente Prudente (SP) Beatriz Jarins/g1 Dry weather, low air humidity and a higher concentration of dust and mites, typical of winter, favor eye irritation and increase the desire to rub them. The apparently harmless habit can contribute to the development or worsening of keratoconus in predisposed people, warn experts consulted by g1. In the interior of São Paulo, the intense cold wave should decrease in the coming days. Low temperatures should be concentrated at night and early in the morning, with warmer afternoons due to the sun's action during the day. Check the weather forecast below. ? Join the g1 Presidente Prudente e Região channel on WhatsApp See the videos that are trending on g1 In addition to the temperature variation throughout the day, the frequent use of heaters and air conditioning units reduces the humidity in the environment and can cause dry eyes. This set of factors can increase eye irritation and lead many people to rub their eyes. The habit, which seems harmless and even provides momentary relief, can have consequences for vision health, especially in people predisposed to keratoconus. On g1, ophthalmologist Claudio Vieira, from Hospital dos Olhos Visare de Presidente Prudente, member of the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology, describes how keratoconus affects the patient's routine. READ ALSO State Civil Defense warns of high risk of fires in the Presidente Prudente region Flu vaccination coverage remains below target in Presidente Prudente and Bauru; see how to get immunized Missed appointments and SUS exams break a record in June and reach almost 58 thousand in the semester in Presidente Prudente "The cornea normally has a rounded shape. In keratoconus, it thins and acquires a shape similar to a cone. The first symptoms are difficulty seeing, reduced vision, itchy eyes and difficulty driving at night", explains Claudio Vieira. The disease may have a genetic cause, however, it is not always developed in the carrier. "It is common in patients who have a family history, but the act of scratching, rubbing, squeezing the eye induces the formation of the cone", he warns. According to the ophthalmologist, more than 80% of patients with keratoconus have the habit of rubbing their eyes. "The cornea becomes more fragile and thinner, until it takes on the shape of a cone. That's why the disease gets its name", he continues. Generally, keratoconus begins to show signs between 10 and 13 years of age. The recommendation is to see an ophthalmologist, as the disease can be confused with myopia or astigmatism. According to Claudio Vieira, prolonged use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices reduces the frequency of blinking, which causes dry eyes and increases the desire to rub them. In genetically predisposed people, this habit can contribute to the onset or worsening of the disease. Ophthalmologist Claudio Vieira, from Hospital dos Olhos Visare in Presidente Prudente (SP) Beatriz Jarins/g1 Treatments Treatment varies depending on the stage of the disease. In initial cases, one of the options is crosslinking, a procedure that lasts between 10 and 20 minutes and requires about a week of recovery. When keratoconus has already caused greater deformation of the cornea, implantation of the Ferrara ring may be indicated. "The patient operates today and can work tomorrow, if they wish, because it is a laser procedure and recovery is usually smooth", highlights the doctor. Corneal transplantation is generally restricted to the most serious cases, due to the greater complexity of the procedure. "You operate on one eye and, to operate on the other, you usually have to wait around six months." Furthermore, the patient needs to get on the queue for a cornea transplant, which can increase the waiting time. "We know that this cornea, after a period of 12 to 15 years, can normally suffer rejection", warns Claudio Vieira. Diagnosed at the age of 19, the Journalism student and resident of Itapetininga (SP), Clara Abrami, aged 22, has already needed to wear glasses since 2023 due to myopia and astigmatism. As time went by, she noticed that her vision was getting worse. "The more it got dark, the more difficult it was for me to see. I went to the ophthalmologist thinking that my myopia had increased and ended up being diagnosed with keratoconus." The following year, in 2024, Clara needed surgery on her left eye due to keratoconus. The method used was crosslinking. She rested for a week and wore sunglasses almost all the time for three months to help with recovery. "I continue to follow all the care recommended by my ophthalmologist, and the results have been very good. I have keratoconus in both eyes, but the surgery was only performed on the left eye", he adds. Other ophthalmological diseases Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Paulo Eduardo Casarin states that temperature changes and typical winter conditions favor the appearance or worsening of various eye diseases. "Climate changes alone do not cause diseases, but they create environmental conditions that favor the appearance or worsening of various eye conditions. This combination modifies both the ocular surface and favors the transmission of infectious diseases", he warns. According to the expert, among the factors that contribute to this scenario are: Drier air and prolonged low humidity; Lower temperatures and greater thermal amplitude; Use of heaters and air conditioning devices; Greater exposure to cold wind; Alternation between cold periods and hot, dry days; Increase in suspended pollutant particles; Greater concentration of smoke; Staying longer indoors;