How to Prevent an Eye Infection

While most eye infections don't cause serious or permanent damage, they tend to spread easily and cause a great deal of discomfort. Good hygiene, including good eye hygiene, is the best way to avoid getting or spreading an eye infection....

Method 1 of 3:

Practicing Good Eye Hygiene

  1. Clean your hands before putting them near your eyes. Touching or rubbing your eyes with unclean hands is the easiest way to introduce viruses or bacteria that may cause infection. You probably touch around your eyes regularly without even thinking about it, so your best bet is to wash your hands frequently throughout the day.[1]
    1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and clean water, then use a clean towel or let them air dry.
    2. If you can't wash your hands, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
    3. Clean your hands after touching shared surfaces, coming in contact with other people, using the bathroom, and definitely right before intentionally touching near your eyes!
  2. Don't share anything that gets anywhere close to your eyes. Sharing an eye-makeup brush (or the actual makeup) is definitely a no-no, but don't stop there! Don't share eyeglasses or sunglasses, body towels or face towels, sleep masks or play masks, pillowcases, or even binoculars, telescopes, or microscopes.[2]
    1. If you do need to share any of these kinds of items, make sure they're cleaned thoroughly between users.
  3. Clean your linens, eyewear, and other eye items regularly. Even if you're not sharing items that get near your eyes, it's important to keep them clean. Switch out your towels and pillowcases at least every 2-3 days, if not more frequently. Clean the lenses of your glasses with a recommended cleaner at least every 1-2 days, and wipe down the frames as well.[3]
    1. If you already have an infection in one eye, clean these items as often as possible to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to the other eye.
  4. Replace your eye cosmetics and applicators every 3-4 months. Over time, your eye makeup can become a little petri dish full of stuff you don't want in your eyes! Switching out your cosmetics frequently—including any brushes or applicators—is the best way to avoid this problem.[4]
    1. Buy smaller containers of cosmetics so you're not tempted to keep using them for longer periods of time.
    2. Throw out any eye cosmetics you've used recently if you know or suspect you have an eye infection, and don't use any eye makeup until the infection has cleared.
  5. Take extra precautions around anyone with an eye infection. If you spend time around someone who has or may have an eye infection, you basically need to take your general eye hygiene measures up another notch. Wash your hands even more frequently, and be even more careful not to share any items that are used near the eyes.[5]
    1. You can't catch an eye infection just by being in proximity to someone who has one, but keep in mind that some eye infections can be caused by infectious diseases such as measles and chickenpox.
Method 2 of 3:

Wearing Contacts Safely

  1. Don't wear a pair of contacts longer than directed. No matter how diligent you are in cleaning them, contacts that are used too long are more likely to harbor bacteria that can cause infections. Overused contacts have more tiny nicks and scratches that can carry bacteria right to your eyes. They're also more likely to cause nicks and scratches to your eyes themselves, which makes them more susceptible to infection.[6]
    1. It's simply not worth it to try to get another day or two out of your contacts—replace them!
  2. Take out your contacts before going to sleep. Contacts trap moisture against your eyes, which makes them more susceptible to infections. Taking out your contacts when you don't need them—most especially at night—cuts back on this risk significantly.[7]
    1. Follow your eye doctor's guidance on the proper way to remove, clean, and store your contacts.
  3. Don't swim, shower, or get water in your eyes when wearing contacts. Basically, try to avoid any opportunity for excess water to get trapped between your contacts and your eyes. Even very clean water may contain traces of viruses or bacteria that can potentially cause infections.[8]
    1. Treat your contacts like miniature eyeglasses. You wouldn't keep your glasses on while showering, swimming, or having a water balloon battle!
  4. Use fresh contact solution every time you store your lenses. Resist the urge to save a bit of money on contact solution by 'topping off' your lens cases with fresh solution instead of emptying them out and filling them up each time. The small savings is not nearly worth the risk of getting an eye infection.[9]
    1. Your contact solution is a key line of defense against eye infections, so don't be shy about using it liberally!
  5. Replace your lens cases every 3 months. Over time, lens cases develop tiny nicks, cracks, and scratches. You may not be able to see them, but they can provide hiding spots for various nastly little things that can cause eye infections. Always replace lens cases immediately if you see any signs of wear or damage, and never go more than 3 months without replacing them regardless.[10]
    1. Your eye doctor may advise you to replace your cases even more frequently.
Method 3 of 3:

Treating and Preventing Infections Medically

  1. Seek a medical diagnosis if you have any signs of an eye infection. The most common type of eye infection, conjunctivitis, is problematic but rarely causes severe damage. However, other, rarer eye infections can potentially lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, so it's important to get any potential eye infection checked out. Watch for symptoms like the following:[11]
    1. Redness, swelling, and discharge.
    2. Eye pain.
    3. Blurred vision.
    4. Light sensitivity (photophobia).
    5. Fever.
  2. Get vaccinated against diseases that may trigger eye infections. There's no vaccine available specifically to prevent eye infections, but there are vaccines that can reduce your chances of getting an eye infection. That's because certain diseases can trigger eye infections. Get all vaccines recommended by your doctor, including for the following:[12]
    1. Rubella.
    2. Measles.
    3. Chickenpox.
    4. Shingles.
    5. Pneumococcal pneumonia.
  3. Take measures to protect newborns from gonococcal infections. Newborns can be exposed to gonorrhea during the birthing process, which can cause a potentially dangerous gonococcal eye infection. Fortunately, taking protective measures for both the woman giving birth and the newborn can greatly reduce this risk.[13]
    1. Pregnant women should be screened for gonorrhea and treated as needed.
    2. All newborns should be given an antibiotic eye ointment shortly after birth. This is standard procedure in many places.
Update 04 April 2020
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