How To Prevent Pinkeye

Pinkeye such as viral conjunctivitis is a highly contagious eye infection, particularly among schoolchildren. Without proper precautions, pinkeye can infect entire classrooms of children, their teachers and families.

Children, teachers and parents all need to observe good hygiene such as frequent hand washing to prevent a pinkeye outbreak.

Contact lens wearers are more susceptible to bacterial conjunctivitis, a less contagious form of pinkeye. Contact lens wearers should always follow the strict cleaning and handling instructions taught to them by their eye care practitioner to reduce the possibility of bacterial contamination of the contact lens that can spread to the eye.

Read on for more pinkeye prevention tips.

Because young children often are in close contact in day care centers and school rooms, it can be difficult to avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses causing pinkeye. However, these tips can help concerned parents, day care workers and teachers reduce the possibility of a pinkeye outbreak in institutional environments:

Wash your hands often, to keep pinkeye from spreading.

• Adults in school and day care centers should wash their hands frequently and encourage children to do the same. Soap should always be available for hand washing.
   
• Personal items, including hand towels, should never be shared at school or at home.
   
• Encourage children to use tissues and cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze or cough.
   
• Discourage eye rubbing and touching, to avoid spread of bacteria and viruses.
   
• For about three to five days, children (and adults) diagnosed with pinkeye should avoid crowded conditions where the infection could easily spread.
   
• Observe cleanliness where practical to avoid bacterial contamination through casual contact. For example, a child might touch a dirty surface where viruses or bacteria are present and then obtain an infection by rubbing or touching their eye(s).
   
• Antiseptic solutions should constantly be used to clean and wipe surfaces that children or adults come in contact with, such as common toys, table tops, drinking fountains, sink/faucet handles, etc.

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As with children, you should never share washcloths, towels or pillowcases with anyone at home or in a public environment. Don't share eyedrops or cosmetics such as eyeliner, eye shadow or mascara; if you have pinkeye, replace these items to avoid re-infection after your recovery.

Intimate contact can provide an opportunity for spreading pinkeye, although it's unlikely that kissing someone can cause an eye infection.

The tears of patients with pinkeye are also infected. These tears drain through a natural tear duct system that eventually trickles into the nose and the back of the throat, mixing with mucus secretions of the nose and/or throat. It is through these airborne secretions that cross-contamination of the virus or bacteria can occur.

You should never wear your contact lenses if you have pinkeye. 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 infected. Naturally, you should replace any contact lens solutions in which infected contact lenses may have been placed.
 

If you are a swimmer, consider wearing protective swim goggles. Exposure to chlorinated water in pools can be a source of noninfectious pinkeye (such as allergic conjunctivitis caused by irritation). Also, you risk picking up a bacterial eye infection any time you swim without eye protection in an unsanitary body of water such as the ocean or a swimming pool that is underchlorinated.

Finally, when you take a bath or get into a hot tub, be sure to remove contact lenses first; they can trap bacteria between the lenses and your eyes and cause pinkeye.