Wearing dark glasses will not help stemming the spread of conjunctivitis, as commonly believed.

“It is just a way of hiding the fact that you have the problem,” as Dr B R Padmanabha Rao, city-based ophthalmic surgeon says.

“What is required to prevent infection is meticulous hygiene,” he says, explaining, “as the infection is rampant, one should avoid contact between hands and eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly after travelling in buses, or at work, if there is someone with the infection.”

A person with conjunctivitis (or ‘Madras eye’) helps spread infection when he accidentally rubs his eyes and then handles common utilities. This is why it is necessary to clean door knobs, use separate hand towels, vessels, pillow covers, etc, in a place with a patient.

It is popularly believed that looking at an infected person is dangerous. This is totally unfounded, the doctor says. It is through physical contact that the virus or the bacteria spreads. The best advice to the infected people and others would be, avoid touching the eyes with hands, unless the hands are washed.

He also rubbishes fears of conjunctivitis leading to major complications as voiced in sections of the press. “I have rarely seen any case of a complication leading to brain related disorders. Possibly in people with immune suppression like HIV, etc it could lead to brain fever, etc,” he said.

Caused by virus
Conjunctivitis is caused by a virus or bacteria which infects the transparent conjunctiva membrane that lines the eyelid and part of the eyeball. The symptoms are redness of the eye, a pricking feeling, watering, matting of the eye, itchiness. It could last for 1-2 weeks, when the chances of others being infected is possible. The normal treatment is antibiotic eye drops which ease irritation.

PREVENTION
*Don’t share objects such as towels/handkerchiefs
*Don’t forget to wash hands with soap and water   after touching eyes or face
*Avoid eye makeup
*Don’t share prescribed medicines
*Don’t use contact lens till infection is cleared