5 ways to prevent pink eye during Tet

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) occurs when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed due to various causes such as viruses, bacteria or allergies. Common symptoms include red eyes, burning sensation, tearing, sticky eyelids in the morning, itching or feeling like there is a foreign object in the eye.

MSc. Dr. Le Thanh Huyen, High-Tech Eye Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, said this disease can occur in all ages and is easily spread when unwashed hands touch the eyes or share towels, pillows, personal items and living surfaces contaminated with eye fluid from the patient. During Tet, many people tend to gather together and have close contact, making pink eye easily spread in the community. Currently, there is no vaccine to specifically prevent pink eye, so prevention plays an important role.

Wash your hands frequently

This is the simplest but most effective measure to prevent and limit the spread of pink eye. Each hand washing session should last at least 20 seconds with soap and clean water. In case there is no water, you can use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Hand washing is especially necessary before and after touching the face and eyes, after contact with shared objects or after taking care of someone with pink eye.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye can survive for a certain period of time on the surfaces of everyday objects. When hands touch these surfaces and then rub eyes, nose or mouth, pathogens can follow the hands into the body and cause conjunctivitis. Therefore, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, combined with regular hand hygiene habits, plays an important role in limiting the spread of pink eye in the community.

Keep the living environment clean

Pink eye can be spread through contaminated surfaces. Families should regularly clean and sanitize items such as door handles, table tops, phones, and children’s toys with common detergents. Opening doors to allow air circulation, keeping the house clean and dry, limiting mold and dust… also contributes to creating a safer living environment, less favorable for disease-causing viruses and bacteria to grow.

Limit sharing personal items

Personal items such as towels, towels, pillows, eye drops, contact lenses or eye cosmetics can become an indirect source of infection if shared with someone who has pink eye. Therefore, each person should use their own utensils and wash and clean personal items regularly.

Use contact lenses properly

Wearing contact lenses while you have pink eye can make eye irritation worse, increasing the risk of infection. Contact lens users need to follow the correct lens replacement schedule, clean lenses and tools according to professional instructions, and stop wearing them and see a doctor when their eyes show signs of abnormalities.

When going to pagodas, wishing relatives New Year wishes or participating in New Year’s celebration activities, each person should bring tissues and hand sanitizer, limit close contact with people who have signs of red eyes and should wear a mask when in public places.

According to Dr. Huyen, although most cases of pink eye can be cured if treated promptly and properly, patients should not be subjective. Delayed treatment of pink eye or using medication incorrectly as prescribed can increase the risk of bacterial infection, damage the corneal surface, and affect vision. When unusual signs appear in the eyes, patients should go to the hospital for examination early for advice and appropriate treatment.