#18 | Wash...Wash...Wash Your Hands
Eye Care Tip of the Week | #18
Wash...Wash...Wash Your Hands
When in doubt, wash your hands.
Many eye infections can be prevented by simply washing your hands before rubbing your eyes or inserting and removing your contact lenses.
Regularly washing your hands helps to remove dirt, dead skin cells and to reduce the spread of germs to yourself and others.
Your hands come into contact with bacteria and virus' all day long, and these transient strains need to be removed. Failure to wash your hands before inserting and removing your contact lenses or rubbing your eyes results in the transfer of bacteria to the contact lens and may lead to an eye infection.
To get your hands extra clean, make sure that you wash them with soap and water (warm or cold - they're both equal) for at least 20-30 seconds. Always dry your hands afterwards with a clean towel. Wiping your hands on your shirt and pants does not count.
10 Common Activites Where You Should Be Washing Your Hands
Before and after eating, or when preparing food
Before and after going to the washroom
After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
After taking out the garbage
Before inserting or removing your contact lenses
Before adding eye drops
Every day when you get home from school or work.
After playing with pets and animals
While caring for someone who is sick or after visiting a hospital
Before holding a baby or after changing their diapers.
When in doubt...rewash your hands.
This Eye Care Tip of the Week is brought to you by Dr. Puneet Randhawa