How To Prevent Pink Eye (4)

How To Prevent Pink Eye:

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, which can be caused by airborne sources, spread easily to others. So your first line of defense is to avoid the cause of conjunctivitis, such as contaminated hand towels.

Never share washcloths, towels or pillowcases with anyone at home or in a public environment. Don't share eye drops or cosmetics such as eyeliner, eye shadow or mascara. If you have pink eye, replace these items to avoid re-infection after your recovery.

You also want to use common sense precautions to avoid spreading pink eye from one infected eye to the other. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching the corners of your eye or rubbing your eye. If your contaminated hand then touches the unaffected eye,you could end up with pink eye in both eyes.

To avoid allergic conjunctivitis, try these tips:

*Dust and vacuum frequently to eliminate allergens in the home.

*Keep windows and doors closed on days when the airborne pollen count is high.

*Stay in well ventilated areas if you're exposed to smoke, chemicals or fumes.

If you are a swimmer, try using protective swim goggles. Exposure to chlorinated water in pools can be a source of noninfectious pink eye, such as allergic conjunctivitis caused by irritation.

Also, you risk picking up a bacterial eye infection anytime you swim without eye protection in an unsanitary body of water such as the ocean or an underchlorinated swimming pool.

These tips for contact lens wearers also may help prevent pink eye or reduce the chance of re-infection if you have already had conjunctivitis:

*Always follow the strict cleaning and handling instructions taught by your eye care practitioner to avoid bacterial contamination of the contact lens, which could then spread to the eye.

*If you do have pink eye, do not wear your contact lenses until the condition has been resolved. Otherwise, you run the risk of extending or worsening symptoms.

*Even if your contact lenses are extended wear and it isn't time for disposal, you still may need to replace them, because they could be contaminated.

*Replace any contact lens solutions in which contaminated contact lenses may have been placed.
When you take a bath or enter a hot tub or any other body of water, be sure to remove contact lenses first to avoid trapping bacteria between your eye and the lens.

If other explanations have been ruled out, ask your eye doctor about the possibility that you could be having an allergic reaction to your particular contact lens solution or preservatives within that solution.

Soft contact lens wearers are more susceptible to a form of pink eye known as giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), caused by abnormal immune responses. If you have GPC, ask your eyecare practitioner about other options, such as wearing a different kind of lens.

Remember, pink eye is a minor eye infection, but sometimes it can develop into a more serious condition.

Because you have no way of knowing for sure what type of pink eye you have, see your eye doctor before using any eye drops in your medicine cabinet from previous infections or eye problems.