Extreme Desert Climates Put Hajj Pilgrims at High Risk for Ocular Surface Disorders, Systematic Review Finds

Gloria Florensia Br Surbakti Selasa, Oktober 06, 2026
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FORMOSA NEWS

Severe environmental conditions during the annual Hajj pilgrimage present a significant but widely overlooked health risk to millions of international travelers: ocular surface disorders. While public health protocols for mass gatherings traditionally focus on infectious diseases and acute heatstroke, emerging research highlights environmental eye conditions as an urgent travel medicine priority.

In a systematic review published in September 2026, Dr. Yuliono Trika Nur Hasan, a researcher from Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University in Indonesia, analyzed existing biomedical literature on ocular health in arid pilgrimage environments. Published in the Multitech Journal of Science and Technology, the review indicates that harsh atmospheric exposure—including extreme heat, low humidity, airborne dust, and artificial air conditioning—directly destabilizes the human tear film, leading to severe dry eye disease and eye irritation among pilgrims. Because Hajj brings millions of travelers from humid regions into severe desert conditions within days, addressing ocular surface health is becoming vital for global travel health planning.

The Hidden Health Crisis of Arid Mass Gatherings

Every year, millions of pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform religious rituals under harsh desert conditions. While national and international health agencies enforce strict protocols for vaccinations, respiratory viruses, and heat exhaustion, non-infectious eye diseases have historically received minimal attention.

The ocular surface relies on a delicate balance between the tear film, epithelial cells, and immune responses to maintain vision and comfort. Rapid transition into hot, dry climates disrupts this natural defense barrier. As global travel increases and mass gathering events expand, public health authorities face a growing need to integrate environmental eye protection into routine pre-travel medical advice.

Research Methodology

Dr. Yuliono Trika Nur Hasan conducted the systematic review following the standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The investigator executed comprehensive searches across four major electronic academic databases: Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase, screening peer-reviewed literature published from January 2015 to August 2026.

Using the Population, Exposure, and Outcome (PEO) framework, the review evaluated studies examining Hajj pilgrims or individuals living in comparable arid environments in Saudi Arabia exposed to extreme temperatures, desert dust, high UV radiation, and heavy air conditioning. Following a multi-stage screening process that initially retrieved 1,264 records, five primary observational studies met the strict eligibility criteria for qualitative synthesis. The methodological quality of the included cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist.

Key Findings

The systematic review established a strong link between environmental hazards in desert climates and ocular surface degradation. Key results from the synthesized data include:

  • High Prevalence of Ocular Surface Disorders: Across the analyzed populations in Saudi Arabia, dry eye disease affects between 32.1% and 49.5% of adults exposed to local environmental conditions.
  • Primary Environmental Stressors: High ambient temperatures, extremely low relative humidity, solar radiation, industrial air pollution, and continuous exposure to indoor air conditioning were identified as primary external triggers for tear film instability.
  • Physical Irritants and Sandstorms: Airborne desert sand, dust particles, and wind directly cause mechanical friction and inflammation on the conjunctiva and cornea.
  • Compounded Risk Factors: Individual vulnerabilities—such as older age, pre-existing systemic health conditions, contact lens usage, and extended outdoor activities—significantly increase the severity of ocular symptoms during pilgrimage rituals.

Real-World Impact and Global Policy Implications

The review’s findings offer actionable insights for travel health agencies, medical teams, and government policymakers overseeing mass gathering logistics. Integrating basic eye care into existing travel medicine framework can prevent unnecessary medical visits during the pilgrimage and improve overall traveler well-being.

Key practical recommendations derived from the research include:

  1. Pre-Travel Health Education: Including ocular protection guidance—such as using lubricating artificial tears, wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, and practicing proper hand hygiene before touching the eyes—in standard pilgrim orientation programs.
  2. Clinical Screening: Screening high-risk groups, including elderly travelers and contact lens wearers, during pre-departure medical checks.
  3. On-Site Medical Resources: Equipping health clinics in Makkah and Madinah with ocular lubricants and basic diagnostic tools to treat acute environmental eye irritation promptly.

Expert Insights

Emphasizing the necessity of expanding travel medicine frameworks, Dr. Yuliono Trika Nur Hasan noted the shifting priorities required for pilgrimage healthcare:

"The findings of this review extend previous ocular surface research by placing environmental exposure within the context of mass gathering travel. Incorporating ocular health assessment into pre-travel counseling and Hajj healthcare planning represents an important expansion of existing preventive approaches."

Author Profile

Yuliono Trika Nur Hasan, MD, M.Sc. is an academic researcher affiliated with Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University in Indonesia. His scientific expertise encompasses travel medicine, ophthalmology, public health, and environmental risk factors in mass gathering environments.

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