Care of the Eye

After reading this I was encouraged to write this piece of advice. 

Pink eye is a horrible ailment. Those working in the healthcare industry are at increased risk of developing pink eye from working in an environment surrounded by viruses and bacteria. Children are particularly at risk of developing and passing along to other children because of their lack of hygiene and closeness to other children. This then puts us parents at greater risk as well. For those parents who wear contact lenses, our risk of contracting the disease is even greater. I am a nurse, a parent, and I wear contact lenses. I have had pink eye too many times to count.

Hand washing is the number 1 way to prevent cross contamination of bacteria and viruses. This is common knowledge in hospitals and is just as relevant in the home. Simple hand washing is a must when dealing with contact lenses. For the contact lens wearer, hand washing is our biggest safety mechanism in the prevention of disease. Alcohol based hand cleaners are fantastic at removing bacteria and viruses, but you wouldn’t want to use that prior to inserting or taking out your lenses. Here is a link to the CDC with a thorough description of proper hand washing techniques.

Contact lens solution should be used only within it’s use by dates, i.e. not after expiry. It is important to keep the tip clean and to not allow it to touch any surface, including your fingers or eyes. Remember to close or replace the cap after use.

The contact lens case should be replaced with every new bottle of solution. Most solutions now come with a case. In addition, the case should be rinsed and cleaned daily and allowed to air dry, preferably in a closed cabinet.

If you do develop pink eye, your lenses should be discarded immediately and you should cease wearing lenses until the infection clears. Follow up with your optometrist or optician prior to resuming wearing of lenses.

Following these simple suggestions certainly will not ensure you stay free from pink eye but will certainly help to reduce the incidence in which you develop it. 

Best of luck and here’s to your eye health.