It's not hard to see why the eyes are one of the most vulnerable parts of our body. They take in a lot of what we come into contact with each day, but they can't protect themselves from infection.
Every year, thousands of people get eye infections that can cause pain and may require urgent care. If untreated, these infections can lead to blurry vision or blindness. Here is how you can reduce your risk of getting an eye infection this season:
Wash your hands often
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of getting an eye infection is by washing your hands often. This is because many of the germs that can cause eye infections are spread through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or blood. By washing your hands regularly, you can help eliminate these germs before they have a chance to enter your eyes.
Always wear a clean mask when you have a respiratory infection
If you have a runny nose or cough that is causing your eyes to tear up, be sure to wear a mask over your mouth and nose. This will prevent the germs from spreading into your eyes and causing an eye infection. Also remember to avoid touching your eyes at this time as this could also cause an infection.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough rest can help the body fight off infections more effectively than if it doesn't get adequate rest. So make sure you are getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night so you don't become tired after spending time with others who may be sick, which can lead to sharing their germs.
Don't wear dirty clothes around the eyes
Dirty clothes can contain many bacteria that can cause infection. We put a lot of things around our eyes that we know are dirty, such as makeup and perfume, but not everything you come into contact with is obvious. For instance, your shirt might be covered in grease from your job, which can lead to an eye infection if it's too close to the eyes. The same applies to clothing in general. Even clean fabrics can irritate or infect the eye if they have come in contact with something harmful. When you take off the dirty clothes and move them to a laundry bag before going home at night, make sure they don't get mistakenly tucked into another garment by accident when you wash them later that day or two days later.
Keep your hair away from your face
The wind is pretty good at blowing things around, and hair products are no exception. During cold months, it's really not hard to see how this might happen since there are plenty of days where your hair will have snow or ice particles within it. You know better than anyone that bacteria transfer quickly between hands and then wherever they touch next. In this case, that may be rubbing right onto your eyes. And if you've picked up any snow or cold air particles along the way, it might not take long for an infection to set in.
Don't share eye makeup with others
Using someone else's makeup can lead to bacterial infections, such as pink eye. Transferring bacteria between people through shared cosmetics is a common cause of non-venereal conjunctivitis (pink eye). Using the same mascara as another person on a daily basis spreads germs more quickly than one would think! Even though just one quick swipe across each lash line seems innocent enough, remember that mascara come into contact with many different areas on the tube, including mouths and fingers.
Change contact lenses regularly
You should change contact lenses regularly to avoid eye infections.
Eye infections can spread quickly between people in close quarters ie. when using the same makeup applicators, shared clothes and other items that come in contact with them all day long.
Regularly changing your contacts will avoid a buildup of bacteria which is a common cause of eye infection, especially if you suffer from allergies or have colds quite often. By changing your lenses when directed by manufacturers rather than when it feels right, you'll be much less likely to contract an infection by accidentally transferring germs from elsewhere on your body or elsewhere in the environment.
And because contact lens wearers are much more prone to eye problems than those who do not wear them, the virus has a much greater chance of infecting you before you have a chance to notice and treat it.
This is a perfect list for you if you want to reduce your risk of getting an eye infection—especially if it's allergy season. From not touching dirty hands to not sharing makeup with others, these tips will keep those pesky germs from going into your eyes and causing an infection. Thus, you can protect yourself against bacteria that can lead to infections in general.
