If you're noticing symptoms such as itchiness or even pain in one of your eyes, coupled by the eye constantly running or producing discharge, there's a good chance that you're dealing with an eye infection. While a visit to your local optometrist can indicate whether the issue is indeed an infection and provide you with a prescription for the right medication to clean up the issue, it's best to do what you can to avoid getting an eye infection in the first place. Here are some simple strategies that anyone can use to limit the risk of developing an eye infection.

Avoid Sharing Sunglasses

It can be easy to be tempted to borrow a pair of sunglasses from a friend if you left yours at home, but doing so can put you at risk of an eye infection. Even though the borrowed sunglasses won't technically make contact with your eye, they can carry bacteria that will be left on your skin around the eye. When this bacteria is present on your skin, it's easy for you to inadvertently introduce it to your eye simply by rubbing your eye with your finger.

Don't Wear Contacts Overnight

Many people who wear contact lenses will occasionally feel tempted to wear them overnight, especially if they arrive home late or they're tired and don't want to deal with the fuss of removing the contacts. When you wear contacts for such long periods, it reduces the volume of oxygen that comes into contact with your eye, which can heighten your risk of an eye infection. As such, it's best to always take a few minutes to properly remove the contacts before you get ready for bed.

Avoid Touching Your Eyes In Public

When you're out in public, your hands are exposed to a wide range of germs that you don't want to introduce to your eyes. It's easy enough to rub your eyes when you're tired or scratch an itch around your eyes, but doing so risks pushing these germs into the eyes and causing an infection. Try to be vigilant about avoiding contact with your eyes when you're out in public — and, of course, give your hands a thorough washing when you get home. It's a good idea to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you; for example, clipped onto your key chain. This will allow you to quickly disinfect your hands at any point if you feel that you need to rub your eyes.

For more information, contact Town Optical Hamilton or a similar location.