#120: Got an Eye Infection? Get Relief Fast...
Sometimes, we get eye infections. They can seem to come out of no where. Last week, I had one myself. I want to tell you five tips to do if you think you've got an eye infection. These rules apply whether your eyes are dry or not.
Symptoms of an eye infection include: redness, irritation, scratchy sensation, light sensitivity, tearing, and mucus discharge. In addition, your eye lids may be swollen and painful to the touch.
Infections can be in both eyes at the same time, or just in one eye. But, be careful, infections can quickly travel from one eye to the other as well.
If you think that there's something going on with your eyes, these five things are going to work for you to help your eye feel better and get relief quick. Here we go.
No. 1) Take your Contact Lenses out
If you think you've got an eye infection, immediately take your contact lenses out. If your contacts are in your eyes, immediately take them out. If your contact lenses are not in your eyes, don't put them in.
Bacteria can be clinging to the contact lenses. You don't want something in your eye that will increase the infection. Leave your contact lenses out of your eyes until you are cleared to wear them again by your eye care professional. And, if they are disposable, throw them away. When you're ready to return to wearing contact lenses, you can open up a new pair.
No. 2) Take Your Makeup Off
if you think you have an eye infection, immediately take off your eye makeup. Don't put eye makeup on the next day. You don't want to contaminate your eye makeup, and you don't want to recontaminate your eye. If you had an infection when you put your eye makeup on the last time, and you use your makeup again, you willl re-introduce the bacteria to your eyes.
Remove your eye makeup with something gentle. I love these microfiber makeup remover pads from Norwex. There's a fuzzy side and a smooth side, and you can use them to remove your eye makeup. Just moisten the pad with water. Start with the fuzzy side to wipe away all of your eye makeup. Follow with the smooth side to get the last traces cleaned off.
No. 3) Keep Your Eyes Clean
You'll want to kill all the bacteria from around your eyes. When you have an eye infection, the bacteria can be in the tears that are running down your face. You want to keep your lids clean so that you don't infect the other eye or someone else.
I like to use a Hypochlorous Acid Spray. There are many brands available. Personally, I use Easy On the Eyes Daily Hygiene Facial Spray from Twenty/Twenty Beauty. I find that is it mild on my skin, yet powerful.
To use a Hypochlorous Acid Spray start with a clean face. Then, close your eyes and spray the mist onto your lids. Let the spray air dry. You don't need to rub it in. You don't need to wipe it off. And, you certainly don't need to rinse it off.
Hypochlorous Acid spray is antiseptic. It's will help kill whatever bacteria may be lingering on your lids and lashes. This is a great product to use anytime that you have a clean face and need a little refresh.
No. 4) Rinse Your Eyes with Tears
Use preservative-free artificial tears to rinse away excess bacteria from your eyes. This keeps the bacterial load in your eye down and rinses away extra inflammatory factors that your body is producing the fight off the bacteria.
I like Optase Dry Eye Intense Drops. It comes in a multi-dose bottle, so you don't have to fear running out of drops. There are over 300 drops in each bottle. Many brands of preservative-free artificial tears come in single serving vials that you discard.
Use the preservative-free artificial tears in multiple times a day. They help rinse out whatever bacteria or virus may have gotten in there and calm down the inflammation.
No. 5) Call Your Eye Doctor
If you think that you have an eye infection, call your eye care professional. See your eye doctor, and find out what's going on. I recommend that you call within 24 hours of thinking that you have an eye infection. And, call immediately, if you were wearing contact lenses and think you an eye infection.
Contact lenses increase the risk of having a corneal ulcer. Contact lenses can trap the bacteria close to your eyes. When the bacteria is in contact with the eye longer, it can cause an open sore on the front of the eye. Ulcers are very painful and can leave you with a scar on the area of the eye that should be clear. These corneal scars can lead to a permanent decrease in vision. And, depending on the size of the scar, the scar can distort the shape of the cornea and make it difficult for you to wear contact lenses in the future.
CONCLUSION
Having an eye infection is a serious matter. Not only are the painful and ugly, but they can be contagious and lead to scarring. If you think you have an eye infection, please see your eye care professional.
Before you get to your doctor's office, you can help yourself out by:
- Removing your contact lenses
- Taking your eye makeup off
- Killing the bacteria with a Hypochlorous Acid Spray
- Rinse away excess bacteria with a preservative-free artificial tear
Many eye infections must be treated with medicated eye drops. That is why it it important to make an appointment to see your eye care professional. Don't just wait for it to go away on its own. The infection could get worse.
