Tips For Proper Eye Hygiene

Viruses are responsible for many infections, such as the flu, the common cold, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and coronavirus. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in full swing, it’s important to be aware of good hygiene practices, especially for the eyes, as they are a portal for infectious diseases.

By implementing the simple yet helpful practices below, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting a viral infection.

Key Eye Hygiene Practices

By implementing the following hygiene practices, you will protect yourself and others better from viral infection.

1. Routinely wash your hands

Again and again and again, this is a must. We, as humans, touch many surfaces throughout the day. If we’re not careful, we can catch an infection, particularly from hard surfaces like plastic and stainless steel.

Viruses can also be picked up while preparing and eating food; using the toilet, or handling an animal. Make sure that you regularly and thoroughly wash your hands, ideally for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water, to kill viruses (and bacteria) on the surface of your skin. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2. Keep your hands off your face

This is as tough as it gets to observe but as much as we can, we should. Studies show that the average person touches their face up to 23 times per hour and that the majority of contacts involve the eyes, nose, and mouth. Doing so puts you at risk of getting a virus or transmitting the virus to another. Try to be conscious and avoid touching your face whenever possible.

3. Avoid rubbing your eyes

Rubbing your eyes is an instinctual response to tiredness or itchy eyes. It feels great to rub your eyes because doing so stimulates tear production, temporarily relieves itchiness, lubricates the eyes, and removes irritants. However, if your hands are unwashed, rubbing your eyes can put you at risk of contracting an infection, such as conjunctivitis or coronavirus. In fact, conjunctivitis has been linked to respiratory infections like the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.

4. Use makeup with caution

Given the information provided above regarding infections, the following advice should come as no surprise:

• Don’t share your makeup with anyone else, whether for eyes, lips, or face.
• Don’t use a cosmetic brush previously used by another when testing makeup products. Instead, request single-use applicators and wands.
• Don’t use a product past its expiration date.
• Don’t use the same makeup products after you’ve been sick or have had an eye infection.
• Don’t share face cloths or face towels with anyone else.

All Shinagawa branches are committed to helping you manage your long-term eye health.

From all of us at Shinagawa, please stay safe and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.