How to Prevent Common Eye Infections This Spring
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As warmer weather kicks into high gear and pollen is in abundance, be aware of your eyes! Allergies can lead to increased contact with your eyes, potentially exposing them to common eye infections and irritants. Here are some tips to help you decrease your chance of eye infections and keep your eyes in top shape in the warmer months.
(1) Avoid Touching Your Eyes
Even if you wash your hands frequently, your fingers are just as likely to spread infection as any other object. Limit the spread of bacteria and other viruses by keeping your hands away from your face and eyes. Remember to wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds.
(2) Keep Your Glasses and Towels Clean
Glasses may not come in direct contact with your eye, but they do carry germs and other bacteria that can harm your vision. When cleaning your glasses, gently rub both sides of the lens with a lint-free cloth. Dirt trapped into the towel may scratch or smear your lenses! Change your towels for drying off your face and hands frequently to avoid trapping bacteria and dirt that could infect your eyes.
(3) Don’t Share Cosmetics or Applicators
As gross as it may sound, bacteria and other fungi may live in your makeup brushes. Keep your eyes from infection by cleaning your cosmetic applicators often. Never share your makeup brushes and toss out old products that have expired, especially those that come in contact with your eyes.
(4) Take a Break from Contacts
Wearing contacts overnight can increase your risk of an eye infection. To properly take care of your eyes, take a break from wearing contacts and clean them with eye solution. Cleaning your contacts prevents the spread of bacteria and other germs from entering your eyes.
Kinds of Infections and How They Spread
The majority of eye infections are caused by a virus, a fungus or a bacteria. If you’ve been exposed to any of these pathogens and rub your eyes afterward, you could develop symptoms of mild to extreme itching or stinging eyes. Some patients can form eye infections more often if they regularly wear contacts. Though many infections are treatable with non-prescription remedies, patients should be aware of preventable measures to keep their eyes healthy.
Common kinds of eye infections include:
- Pink eye
- Corneal ulcers
- Chalazia
- Uveitis
If you develop an eye infection, we encourage you to see a vision professional as soon as possible. Attend our FREE online vision seminar on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. CST to learn more about your vision options. RSVP here!