No one likes getting pink eye – it burns, itches, looks unattractive, and can last for weeks. But when you get pink eye it’s important to avoid touching your eyes so you don’t end up spreading the infection to others. To prevent the spread of pink eye, use these 7 steps immediately.

Avoid Sharing Personal Items

One of the best ways to avoid spreading pink eye is to never share personal items with others. This includes makeup, face cloths, towels, and pillows. This can prevent the bacteria that causes pink eye from being passed on from one person to another.

Wash Hands Often

When out in public spaces, make sure you wash your hands often. Pink eye is highly contagious and can spread easily through the contact from our eyes to our hands. Simply by touching elevator buttons, handrails, doorknobs, or money and then touching your eyes, you can quickly transfer pink eye germs to others. So, wash your hands frequently and keep a travel hand sanitizer available to avoid spreading the bacteria.

Avoid Rubbing Your Eye

If you get an itch, avoid touching your eye with your hands. Instead, get a cloth and add warm water to wipe your eye gently. Just remember to wash the cloth afterward to prevent spreading.

Wash Discharge from Your Eye

You can also prevent the spread of pink eye by washing the discharge from your eyes several times a day. Simply use a cotton ball or wet washcloth and wipe the inside corner and outside corner of your eye. Make sure that you throw out the cotton ball and wash the towel thoroughly, so others don’t use it again by mistake.

Throw Away and Clean Items After

After the pink eye is gone, make sure to wash all your sheets, pillowcases, towels, as well as your eye wear and sunglasses. If you wear contacts, throw out any contacts you were using before you contracted pink eye, as well as any contact solution.

Clean Surfaces in Your Home

Many of the surfaces in our home have frequent contact with our hands and can contain traces of the conjunctivitis bacteria. Make it a habit to clean surfaces frequently that are often touched – countertops, phones, faucets, doorknobs, keyboards, and cupboards.

Wear Goggles When Swimming

Bacteria is easily spread throughout water. By purchasing swim goggles, you can help protect your eyes and others from any conjunctivitis germs that may be in the water.

Pink eye affects millions of Canadians each year, but you can prevent the spread of pink eye to others simply by following these steps and seeking care from your eye care specialist right away.