Pinkeye is spread through contact with
the eye drainage, which contains the virus or bacteria that caused the pinkeye.
Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other
eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can
The following tips help prevent the spread of
- Wash your hands before and after:
- Touching the eyes or face.
medicine in the eyes.
- Do not share eye makeup.
- Do not use eye
makeup until the infection is fully cured, because you could reinfect yourself
with the eye makeup products. If your eye infection was caused by bacteria or a
virus, throw away your old makeup and buy new products.
- Do not
share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.
- Do not wear
contact lenses until the infection is cured. Thoroughly clean your contacts
before wearing them again.
- Do not share eye
- Do not share towels, linens, pillows, or handkerchiefs.
Use clean linens, towels, and washcloths daily.
- Wash your hands and
wear gloves if you are looking into someone else's eye for a foreign object or
helping someone else apply an eye medicine.
- When in the wind, heat, or cold, wear eye protection
to prevent eye irritation.
safety glasses when working with chemicals.