Pinkeye: Protect Your Eyes - Wash Your Hands

As we return to school and work after a much-deserved spring break, we should be wary of several highly infectious but easily preventable diseases. One of the easiest diseases to prevent is pinkeye. Also known as conjunctivitis, pinkeye is the swelling of the conjunctiva (the outermost layer of the eye). It can be caused by allergies, chemicals, or, most commonly, bacterial or viral infections. In all cases, symptoms may include eye irritation and redness, excessive tearing, or swollen eyelids.

Symptoms tend to last from three to seven days and can be quite unpleasant. Often in the case of viral infection, there is no medical cure and the only treatment is warm or cold, moist compresses. Luckily, it is easy to avoid contracting pinkeye if you follow these simple tips:

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after interacting with family, colleagues, or classmates.
• Do not share makeup, pillows, towels, or goggles with infected people.
• If you are infected, avoid going to work or school until you are no longer contagious. This usually takes about a day for bacterial infections or 3-4 days for viral infections.

Through frequent hand-washing as part of a larger program of good hygiene, you can avoid contracting pinkeye. If you or your children are infected, you can avoid spreading the disease by staying home until symptoms diminish. Please note: if symptoms persist for more than a week, or if you have an impaired immune system, pinkeye may become more serious and you should consult your doctor.