Eye Flu: Why Sunglasses Won't Stop Conjunctivitis Spreading

When eye infections spread through a town, dark glasses suddenly appear everywhere. Sunglasses, or kala chashma, can make sore eyes more comfortable in bright light, but they do nothing to stop conjunctivitis spreading from one person to the next. Understanding how the infection really travels is the key to stopping it.

What conjunctivitis is

Conjunctivitis, often called pink eye or eye flu, is inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It can be caused by:

• viruses
• bacteria
• allergens, such as pollen or dust
• irritants, such as smoke or chemicals

The infectious forms, caused by viruses and bacteria, spread very easily from person to person. Allergic and irritant conjunctivitis are not contagious, but they still need the cause removed and, if symptoms persist, medical advice.

How it spreads

Infectious conjunctivitis moves between people in several ways:

1. Hands to eyes. Touching discharge from an infected eye, then touching your own eyes, is the most direct route.
2. Shared items. Towels, face cloths, eye make-up, contact lenses and spectacles can all carry the infection.
3. Coughs and sneezes. Droplets released by an infected person can carry viruses or bacteria to someone else's eyes.
4. Contaminated water. Swimming pools and other water sources can pass on the infection if they are contaminated.

Sunglasses do not block any of these routes.

How to protect yourself and others

• Keep your hands away from your eyes, and do not rub them, especially if they are already irritated.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, particularly after touching your face.
• Keep personal items personal. Do not share towels, cosmetics, lenses or glasses.
• Cover coughs and sneezes, throw tissues away straight after use and wash your hands.
• Stay away from others while infected, until the symptoms have cleared or a doctor says it is safe to return.

Caring for your eyes at home

See a doctor to confirm the cause and get the right treatment. Alongside that, these simple steps can ease discomfort:

• Clean away discharge gently with a clean, damp cloth, using a separate cloth for each eye so you do not carry the infection from one to the other.
• Use a warm compress: hold a clean, damp cloth over the closed eyes for a short while, a few times a day.
• Try lubricating eye drops or artificial tears from a pharmacy to soothe irritation.
• Leave out eye make-up until the eyes have fully recovered.
• Switch from contact lenses to glasses for the time being.

If symptoms are severe, get worse, last longer than expected, or affect your vision, see a doctor promptly.

When to see a doctor straight away

Most conjunctivitis settles without lasting harm, but some signs need prompt medical attention:

• real pain in the eye, not just grittiness or itching
• blurred vision that does not clear when you blink
• strong sensitivity to light
• a red eye in a newborn baby
• symptoms in someone whose immune system is weakened

Two common myths

"You can catch it by looking at someone." You cannot. The infection spreads through contact and droplets, not through eye contact.

"Dark glasses stop it spreading." They do not. They may ease discomfort in bright light, but hand washing and not sharing personal items are what stop the spread.

Eye flu in the workplace

Workplaces bring people into close contact and are full of shared equipment, so an outbreak can move quickly through a team. In short:

• Clean shared eye and face equipment, such as safety goggles, face shields, welding visors, binoculars, microscope eyepieces and headsets, between users, or issue them personally during an outbreak.
• Provide soap, water and paper towels where people work, not just in washrooms.
• Let people recover. Staff with infectious conjunctivitis should stay away from work, or work from home where possible, until they are no longer infectious.
• Remind teams of the main routes of spread with a short toolbox talk when cases appear.

How Eduforce can help

Our Industrial Hygiene training deals with the biological, chemical and physical exposures that affect health at work, and our Basic First Aid Certification training prepares people to handle common injuries and illness. To arrange a session, write to info@eduforce.in or message us on WhatsApp at 8779291591.

This article is for general awareness and does not replace medical advice.