DOH issues tips to prevent sore eyes

Published June 8, 2014 12:05pm

Wash your hands frequently, minimize hand-to-eye contact, and use your own towels and sunglasses.

These were among the tips issued by the Department of Health over the weekend to avoid getting sore eyes or conjunctivitis.

In an advisory issued Saturday, the DOH said sore eyes involve redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjunctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the membranes in the inner part of the eyelids.

Severe cases may involve pain of the eyes when exposed to sunlight and foreign-body solutions, it said.

"Incubation period or time from exposure to onset of symptoms is usually 5-12 days," it added.

Among the causes of sore eyes are:

- infection by adenoviruses
- chemicals
- trauma

Sore eyes can spread via:

- direct contact with hands contaminated with eye secretions of an infected person
- touching eyes with hands getting in contact with surfaces, instruments, eye solutions, or make-ups contaminated with the virus
- swimming in poorly chlorinated pools

The DOH said symptoms may include:

- watery to pus-like discharge
- redness of the eye with pain and/or itching
- eyelids stuck together when waking up

Treatment and prevention

The DOH said there is no specific treatment during the acute phase of one to two weeks. It advised those with profuse eye discharge or with blurred vision or severe pain to consult an opthalmologist.

It offered the following prevention tips:

- wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water
- minimize hand-to-eye contact
- use your own towels, eye drops, make-ups and applicators, sunglasses, or eyeglasses
- wear eyeglasses or sunglasses on windy days to protect eyes from foreign particles
- avoid crowded places.
- with dilute bleach solution, disinfect surfaces, doorknobs, counters, elevator buttons, and handrails
- wash clothes, towels, pillow cases, and items that may have come in contact with an infected person.

— Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

Tags: soreeyes, dohsoreeyesprevention