In a condition commonly known as pink eye or conjunctivitis, the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that covers the eyelid and eyeball, becomes inflamed. A viral/bacterial infection or allergic reaction causes pink eye; in the case of babies, an incomplete opening of the tear duct causes it. Pink eye can be irritating at times but does not affect your vision.
Pink eye symptoms include
- Redness
- Itching
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes
- Swelling
- Burning in the eyes
- Crusting of eyelids or eyelashes
This blog aims to explore the ways of how to prevent conjunctivitis.
Ways to Prevent Conjunctivitis
To prevent the spread of pink eye, consider the following tips.
- You should avoid touching and rubbing your eyes with your hands as it may worsen the situation.
- You should keep your hands clean and remember to wash them for about 20 seconds, especially if you come in contact with someone suffering from conjunctivitis or you touch their personal items.
- You should use a clean towel and wash the used cloth daily.
- Avoid sharing your towel and clothes with other persons who are not infected, as they may develop the infection after coming into contact.
- You should change your pillowcase daily and clean it with soap and warm water.
- You should avoid sharing items like makeup, eyedrops, towels, bedsheets, contact lenses, eyeglasses, etc.
- You should not use the same eye products for the eye that is infected and refrain from applying these to the other one.
- You should not use contact lenses until your doctor permits you to do the same.
- Remember to clean and store your contact lenses the way your doctor has asked you to.
- Avoid sharing eye products and discard items used during the infection.
Newborns are more prone to developing pink eye or conjunctivitis because of the bacteria in the mother's birth canal. In some instances, these bacteria cause the infants to develop an infection known as ophthalmia neonatorum. It is a severe form of conjunctivitis virus, and the newborn baby needs immediate care and treatment to help preserve his/her eyesight. This is why doctors administer antibiotic ointment treatment to babies eyes right after birth, as they believe it prevents the spread of any infection.
Conclusion
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is not a serious problem. You can take care of it with the advice of a medical expert. Here, we have tried to discuss the ways for conjunctivitis prevention. All we need to do is keep the above-discussed ways in mind and avoid unnecessary outings. You can easily cure pink eye; if you feel it is severe, you can visit your doctor anytime. Moreover, you can purchase health insurance that covers you and your family during health emergencies.