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How Can I Prevent Conjunctivitis?

Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious. Unless you observe the following preventive measures the condition will quickly spread to other people:

• Thoroughly wash your hands often and well.
• Keep your hands away from the infected eye.
• Do not share washcloths, towels, pillowcases, or handkerchiefs with others, including family members.
• Change your washcloth, towel, and pillowcase after each use, and wash them thoroughly.
• Do not use other people's eye drops or cosmetics, particularly eye pencils and mascara.

If your child gets pinkeye, keep him or her out of school for a few days. Once one student comes down with conjunctivitis, it is not uncommon for it to spread to an entire class.

Allergic conjunctivitis can be prevented by avoiding those things that trigger the condition. New treatments for allery sufferers (pills and eye drops) can prevent symptoms before they occur. Some patients benefit from skin testing that identifies specific sensitivities that can be blocked with regular injections (immune therapy).

Discontinuation of hard contact lens wear can prevent giant papillary conjunctivitis.