Eye infections can impact any part of the eye and range from simple and self-limiting to more serious occurrences, which might require medical diagnosis and treatment. The following are nine simple steps you can take to avoid contracting an eye infection.
Practice Good Hygiene
Personal cleanliness is an important step in keeping your eyes clear of contagions. It is suggested you:
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap prior to touching your eyes
- Use disinfectant hand wash before allowing your hands to come in contact with your eyes
- Rinse your eyes with warm water if you touched them with dirty hands
Take Proper Care Of Your Contact Lenses
For those who wear contacts, it is recommended you:
- Clean them using the proper disinfectant products
- Discard lenses which have exceeded their expiration date
Avoid Touching Your Face
There are times when this will be unavoidable, such as if you need to apply makeup or administer topical medicine to your face. In the event such a situation arises, you should consider:
- Washing your hands before going through with the application
- Rinse your eyes and surrounding areas immediately after the application is complete
Use Caution With Eye Makeup
If you wear eye makeup, make sure you:
- Exercise caution in not allowing any to enter any part of your eye
- Do not, under any circumstances, share eye makeup with anyone.
Avoid Sharing Household Items With Others
This is particularly the case with linen products like:
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Wash Cloths
- Towels
It is also recommended you either wash or use new linens on a daily basis.
Avoid Sharing Contact Lens Accessories With Anyone
Accessories are items including:
- Lens storage cases
- Solutions used to clean the lenses
Shield Your Eyes When Necessary
Protecting your eyes is critical when:
- You are working with or are exposed to toxic chemicals
- You are out and about in hot and/or windy conditions
- You are in an excessively dusty environment
Exercise Caution When Using Eye Medications
Eye doctors recommended you do not:
- Share medication with anyone
- Use old or leftover medication without first consulting them
Do Not Touch Someone Else’s Eyes
If such circumstances are unavoidable, you should:
- Wear gloves
- Wash your hands before and after coming into contact Ⓡ
