Pink eye treatment: What if I wear contact lenses?

I have pink eye and wear contact lenses. Do I have to dispose of my contacts, or can I disinfect them?

- No name / No state given

Answer

Unfortunately, as a part of your pink eye treatment, you'll have to throw out your contact lenses and any carrying case that you used for them. Because pink eye is often caused by a virus, the infection can be spread by your contact lenses. Whether you wear hard or soft contact lenses, once they are contaminated by pink eye, they cannot be sterilized using either your usual disinfectant solutions or hydrogen peroxide.

Before wearing a new pair of contacts, you should wait until your eyes are totally healed. Since your corneas, the clear dome-shaped covering over your eye, may be infected with the same virus that causes pink eye, it may be wise to have an examination by your eye care provider before starting contact lens wear with fresh lenses.

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