How to prevent the spread of pink eye
Nov 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
If you experience mild eye discomfort, maintain good eye hygiene by gently wiping away eye secretions with a sterile cotton swab to prevent contamination of surrounding objects. Keep your living or working environment well-ventilated, and regularly clean frequently touched surfaces such as desks and door handles to reduce the presence of pathogens in the environment. If symptoms such as eye redness, itching, or increased discharge occur, seek medical attention promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment.
To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis (pink eye), it is generally necessary to wash hands frequently and avoid rubbing the eyes, refrain from sharing eye-related items, thoroughly disinfect after contact with infected individuals, maintain cleanliness of the eyes and environment, and ensure proper isolation until full recovery. A detailed explanation is as follows:
1. Wash hands frequently and avoid rubbing the eyes: Develop the daily habit of frequent handwashing using soap or hand sanitizer, especially after going outdoors or touching public objects. Avoid touching the eyes with hands after washing, as hands can easily carry pathogens; rubbing the eyes may introduce these pathogens into the eye, increasing the risk of infection.
2. Do not share eye-related items: Do not share towels, handkerchiefs, eye masks, glasses, or other personal eye items with others, nor borrow someone else's eye drops or ointments. These items may carry pathogens from an infected person’s eye secretions, and sharing them can directly lead to pathogen transmission and cross-infection.
3. Thoroughly disinfect after contact with patients: If you have been in contact with a person who has pink eye or with items they have used, immediately clean your hands with a disinfectant (such as alcohol-based hand sanitizer). Any clothing that came into contact should also be washed and dried promptly. Thorough disinfection helps eliminate residual pathogens and prevents further spread.
4. Maintain eye and environmental hygiene: If experiencing mild eye discomfort, keep the eyes clean by gently wiping away eye discharge with sterile cotton swabs, avoiding contamination of surrounding surfaces. Keep living or working areas well-ventilated, and regularly clean high-touch surfaces such as desks and door handles to reduce pathogen persistence in the environment.
5. Isolate the patient until recovery: Individuals diagnosed with pink eye should avoid schools, workplaces, and public places until fully recovered, minimizing close contact with others. Items used by the patient, such as towels and basins, should be stored separately and disinfected by scalding with boiling water to prevent spreading the infection to family members or others.
If symptoms such as eye redness, itching, or increased discharge occur, seek medical attention promptly for diagnosis. Once diagnosed, follow the prescribed treatment plan and strictly adhere to isolation and protective measures.
