How does pink eye affect my contacts?

by Heather Creekmore · Published February 23, 2016 · Updated February 24, 2016

Dear America’s Best,

My eye looked a little pink yesterday, and by the time I woke up this morning, it was glued shut. Now it’s oozing, and I seem to have all the signs of pink eye. I don’t think I can get my contact lens back in today, but how will I know when it’s safe to wear them again? How does pink eye affect my contacts?

Sincerely,

Julie in Florida

Dear Julie,

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is not a fun experience for anyone, especially to those of us who wear contact lenses. It is very important that you follow the rules of proper lens and eye healthcare when dealing with this type of infection.

Make an appointment with your America’s Best optometrist about getting some antibiotic drops to help speed up the recovery process. In the meantime, practice good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap every time you touch your eyes and be very careful not to spread the infection from one eye to the other. Pink eye is VERY contagious. Once you get your prescription, make sure you follow the directions on the medicine and be careful not to touch your eyeball with the tip of the applicator. You can also use warm compresses to help with the oozing and discomfort. Just make sure to launder the cloths after you use them. Reusing them could just further spread the infection.

Throw away your contact lenses. If you had the lens in while the infection was present (sounds like they were in your eyes when the irritation started), there is a good chance that those pink eye-causing bacteria are present on your lenses. You’ll need to throw away both lenses and even the case you are cleaning them in and start fresh to avoid perpetuating the infection.

Wash or dispose of anything that comes into contact with your eye within 48 hours of the start of symptoms. This includes, towels, pillowcases, and makeup like mascara, eyeliner pencils or eye shadow brushes.

Wait at least 24, if not 48 hours after you’re sure the infection is gone before you wear your contact lenses again. You want to make sure you’ve given your eyes plenty of time to heal before reinserting your lenses. You wouldn’t want to put in a new pair of only to have the infection resurface and have to throw those away too! Be absolutely sure you are infection-free before you start wearing your contacts again.