Smoke irritates residents' eyes

Jennifer Churchill

American Academy of Ophthalmology

As smoke from the California wildfires spreads across the country, people are feeling the effects in their eyes, even those who live miles away from the hotspots.

People who already suffer from eye conditions such as dry eye, blepharitis or allergic conjunctivitis are especially susceptible to the burning and stinging eye pain that smoke can cause.

"Every single patient I've seen today (Aug. 9), almost without exception, has complained of stinging, burning, red eyes, and my eyes are feeling the same way," Dr. John Bosetti, an ophthalmologist...