Pink eye is a viral or bacterial infection causing irritation in the fine, clear membrane that covers the eyeball and part of the eyelid (conjunctiva).
In such a situation the sole query that one is faced with is ‘what to do for pink eye?’ There are several immediate steps one could take to help prevent the condition from aggravating or being spread to those around.
What to do for pink eye
Since pink eye could be vastly communicable, hence it is imperative that stringent sanitation rules be followed by elders as well the tots. Such practices need to be unswervingly followed for nearly ten days subsequent to pink eye having been identified or till the time reddishness in eyes has subsided.
Here are several good rules that will help guide those mulling over what to do for pink eye:
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Avoid rubbing or touching the eye which has contracted the infection. In case just a single eye has been infected then being vigilant about not touching the other unaffected eye. It is important that one’s hands be washed following contact with the individual’s face or eye area.
- Washing hands with disinfectant hand washes or soaps for numerous instances during the day.
- Any form of emission or discharge from the affected eye/eyes must be washed or rinsed out two times in a day. Ideally dampened facial tissues work best in this situation. The right motion for cleaning the eye is wiping outwards in just one stroke, commencing at the sides, close to the nose. The area is then to be blotted dry using new tissues and being wary about not touching the unaffected eye during this time.
- Employing paper towel rather that a wash cloth and towel to wash and dry the facial and hand area. In case this could not be done then ensuring that other people do not come in contact with the infected individual’s cloth towel and facial cloth.
- Thoroughly washing all infection-ridden towels, facial cloth and bed linen separate from the rest of the kin’s laundry. Detergents with the most tepid water settings be used during washing infected clothing and then drying them in a warm dryer.
- A person infected with pink eye must ideally not wear eye contacts or any form of cosmetics to the eye area till the time reddishness, inflammation and discharge from the eye/eyes has not totally cleared up. Any eye cosmetics used when the pink eye signs and symptoms initially surfaced must be discarded right away. When the infection has subsided, then making sure to see that the eye contact lenses are meticulously cleansed prior to using them to avoid any re-infection developing.
Use of Medicine
In case the eye doctor has prescribed certain antibiotics eye drop or ointment then the following pointers are to be kept in mind while using them:
- In case of administering eye drops, the lower eyelid has to be pulled down in a gentle manner till a pocket forms. This would assist in catching the eye drops and preventing their spillage or wastage. The eye drops could also be administered on the whites of the eye since it has lesser sensitiveness in comparison to the rest of the eye.
- Only a single drop should be administered during an instant and then keeping the eye drops refrigerated, so the cool effect could instantaneously be felt and whether it has spread over the eyes.
- The eyes are to be kept shut for about two minutes and no blinking to be done during this time.
- Ointments are to be placed on the eyelashes which would gradually melt and seep into the eyes.
