I wear contact lenses and have just been diagnosed with a pink eye. What should I do?

Pink eye is either due to a bacteria or a virus. The infection is also known as conjunctivitis. 


In general, when you have a pink eye you can not wear contact lenses and will have to wait until your infection clears. The disposable contact lenses must be thrown away but the non disposable lenses can be disinfected. 


You must discard all the old supplies of your contact lenses including the solution and the containers. In most cases, doctors recommend not wearing contact lenses for at least 3-4 weeks after an episode of conjunctivitis. This also applies to allergic conjunctivitis.

My daughter has been told that she has a pink eye. How long is this infection contagious?

Pink eye is also known as conjunctivitis and can be caused by either a bacteria or a virus. 


All children who have a pink eye are contagious as long as the symptoms of excessive tearing and redness are present. In most cases, with treatment the symptoms of a pink eye last 3-6 days. Once there is no more tearing the child can return back to school. 


However, if the pink eye was due to a bacterial infection it is important to continue the antibiotic as recommended. Frequent hand washing and good eye hygiene are essential in preventing transmission of this infection to others

My son has been told that he has a viral conjunctivitis, how should I treat it?

Viral conjunctivitis requires no treatment. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics. 


The viral conjunctivitis usually last 2-3 weeks and resolves on its own. In most cases, only one eye is initially affected and then the other eye gets involved in a 2-3 days. 


Anti viral drugs are rarely used to treat viral conjunctivitis that is prolonged or not resolving after 3 weeks. Do remember that viral conjunctivitis is contagious and thus you should wash hands frequently and avoid sharing personal care items with other members of the family.

How does one treat bacterial “pink” eye (Conjunctivitis)?

Unlike a viral infection a bacterial conjunctivitis or pink eye, does require treatment. 


The standard treatment is prescription antibiotic drops which have to be applied several times a day. In most cases, the conjunctivitis resolves in a few days.  


Besides eye drops there are also eye ointments for conjunctivitis. Children hate eye drops and thus an eye ointment may be preferable. The only downside to an ointment is that the stuff is gooey and blurs vision temporarily


You must complete the course of antibiotics as set out by your doctor. In the meantime, wash hands frequently and maintain good eye hygiene.

Should I undergo lasik surgery?

Well, it depends on several factors. First, there is the cost. The price of lasik does vary across the nation but averages around $2,500. Even though some doctors are advertising lasik for less than $1000, do not fall for these cheap mill factories. The results are what you pay for. On the other hand, there are also many instances when you fork out a lot of money and still have a crappy result. 

Lasik after all is a surgical procedure and like all surgery, there are many risks and complications. Complications with the eye are not something trivial and in most cases are permanent. Common reported complications after lasik include dry eyes, blurred vision, floaters, sensitivity to bright lights, double vision and halos.

It is estimated from more than 15-25 percent of people who have Lasik develop one or more of these complications. Of these, 3-10 percent have long term problems with their eyes. In addition if you are into contact sports, then lasik is not for you. 

Next there are both good and bad surgeons-more of the latter. In addition, the results of lasik are not permanent. By the age of 40-45, most people develop progressively diminished ability to focus near objects with age and for this, you will need to resort back to glasses.

All consumers should understand that lasik is a cosmetic procedure. You should never be rushed into it. Moreover, lasik is not covered by any health insurance plan and even when things go wrong, there are no refunds (you can always settle this problem with a visit to a lawyer).
So in the end it depends what you want. Looking cool with “glass-free vision” and possibility of double vision and halos or “vision-with glasses” and having to buy a new expensive Giorgio Armani frame every few years to look cool.

What medicine can I use for dry eyes?

Dry eye has many causes. But irrespective of the cause, dry eyes can be very discomforting. There are several medications one can buy but the best is restasis. This liquid formula can help people with dry eyes. It rapidly relieves the itching, pain or redness. Restasis works by increasing the production of tears from the small glands in the eye. Unfortunately, Restasis does not work for all patients with a dry eye. For example, if you do not have tear glands, then Restasis will not work.

Side effects

Restasis does have a few mild side effects that include itching, redness or, burning when it is first applied. These symptoms generally disappear after a few days. Other side effects include blurry vision or discharge from the eye. If these symptoms persist, one must notify their health care provider.

In extremely rare cases, Restasis may worsen the dryness in the eye. If this happens, the drug should be discontinued and one should discuss the option of artificial tears with their doctor.

Like all drugs, Restasis can also induce an allergic reaction which may present with a skin rash, difficulty breathing, facial swelling and itching. If this ever happens, one should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency department.

How do I use restasis 

Restasis should only be taken as directed by your doctor. Restasis should be applied to the affected eye twice a day. The two doses must be separated by at least 10 hours. Before applying the Restasis eye drops, always wash your hands. Try and not contaminate the tip of the vial with your hands or eye. Shake the vial before use to ensure that the medication is properly mixed. Tilt your head and look to the ceiling, then pull on the lower eye lid to make a small hollow pouch- instill the Restasis drop into the eye. After application, look down and close your eye for 30 seconds. Try not to rub or blink there the eye for the nest minute. If you use other eye medication drops, wait at least 15 minutes in between each drop. One should always remove contact lenses 15 minutes before instilling the eye drops. The lenses can be worn again in 15-20 minutes after the drops.

For maximal benefit, Restasis must be taken at the same time every for several days to work. If you miss a dose of Restasis, do not double dose the next time as it will increase the side effects.

Can vitamins help my eye?

Lately there have been many ads on dietary supplements that may benefit the eye. Many manufacturers claim that eating vitamins can prevent glaucoma, cataracts or improve vision. This is first rate Bull Crap.

There is no evidence to show that eating vitamins can prevent cataracts or glaucoma. The few studies that have been done on vitamins have not shown that the supplements prevented glaucoma or improved vision. Moreover, it is very rare to find an individual with vitamin deficiency in North America- we are a nation which overindulges in food.

So if you have an eye problem, go see an eye doctor. The entire health supplement industry has gotten out of control with false advertising and nonsensical claims. Sure, if you want to take vitamins, there is nothing wrong.

But if you want to be healthy and save money, eat fruits and vegetables. These natural foods contain all the minerals and vitamins that you will ever need.