At Classic Vision Care, under the expert direction of Dr. Mital Patel, our highly trained optometrists offer comprehensive services designed to protect your vision and the health of your eyes. To that end, we routinely help patients quickly remedy eye infections, which present a considerable hassle under the best of circumstances and a serious problem if they’re left unchecked.
And while we love visiting with our patients, we always hope to not see you because of an eye infection, which is why we’ve pulled together 7 tips that will keep your eyes infection-free.
1. Wash up
Most eye infections are caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi that are easily transferred from person to person. And one of the easiest ways to pick up an infection is through your hands, which is why we recommend that you wash them frequently, especially if you’ve been in public places.
2. Don’t rub or touch your eyes
Another great way to avoid infection is to avoid touching your eyes. If you need to rub your eyes, cover your hand with a clean cloth first to avoid transmitting any infectious organisms.
3. Remove your contact lenses
After a long day, you may be tempted to just collapse into bed without removing your contact lenses. Take the extra few minutes to remove your lenses, which have been exposed to microbes that can stick to the surface. Make sure to wash your hands before doing so.
4. Clean your contact lenses
After you remove your contact lenses, you must clean them properly. These lenses can harbor all manner of bacteria and viruses so be sure to follow our cleaning instructions, which means using the right solutions and storing your contacts in clean cases.
5. Don’t share makeup
One of the easiest ways to get an eye infection is by sharing eye make-up applicators. To err on the side of caution, don’t share things like mascara, even among your closest friends. And if you have an eye infection, be sure to throw out these items so you don’t run the risk of re-infecting yourself.
6. Sheets and towels
For both men and women, sharing towels at the gym or pillowcases on a camping trip is a recipe for spreading infection. Whatever the situation, be sure to have your own clean towels and linens at all times.
7. Come and see us
While this last tip isn’t exactly preventive, it will minimize the discomfort of an eye infection. At the first signs of an infection — usually itchiness, redness, pain, and excessive tears — come see us right away so that we can provide care. Seeking medical help will bring you relief and also save you from passing the infection on to close family and friends.
If you’d like to learn more about preventing and treating eye infections, please contact one of our offices in Kennesaw, Marietta, and Atlanta, Georgia, or request an appointment using our online scheduling tool.
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