How Facial Hygiene Can Affect the Eyes

• Introduction
• Eye disorders associated with facial hygiene
  • Swelling or inflammation of the eye area
  • Trachoma
• Preventative measures
  • Face washing
  • Washing and removing objects from the eyes
    • Washing children’s eyes
    • Removing foreign objects from eyes
  • Antibiotic treatment to prevent trachoma or its progression
  • Improving sanitation and environmental conditions

Introduction

Bacteria, dirt and other foreign particles on the face can sometimes pass through the eyelids and come into contact with the eye’s surface. Everyday dirt from a garden, soiled clothing or a kitchen bench often contain chemicals and bacteria, and there are many ways in which these substances can enter the eye while an individual is working or relaxing. Exposure of the eyes’ surface to these foreign substances can lead to irritation or infection. However, preventing exposure to these substances or preventing the eyes from becoming damaged as a result of such exposure is simple and can be achieved largely through keeping the face clean.

Eye disorders associated with facial hygiene

The eye disorders associated with facial cleanliness are mostly minor irritations and infections. However, more serious infections and irritations can also result, particularly if minor infections are not promptly treated. In addition poor facial hygiene is associated with the development of trachoma, an eye infection which is the world’s leading cause of blindness.

Swelling or inflammation of the eye area

Foreign particles (e.g. from a dirty face) occasionally enter the eyelids and contact the eye’s surface. Such particles may cause irritation, redness or inflammation of the eye.

Trachoma

Trachoma is an eye disorder characterised by infection of the conjunctiva by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the world’s leading cause of blindness and is associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, overcrowding and poverty. Poor facial hygiene also facilitates the spread of the infection.

Trachoma mainly affects children in the third world but is also common amongst Indigenous Australians. Australia is the only developed country still affected by trachoma and in some Indigenous communities, trachoma prevalence is as high as 50%. The infection is spread through direct or indirect (e.g. touching, contaminated bedding, flies) contact with infected eye, nose and throat secretions.

Preventative measures

There are a range of measures which can be taken to protect the eyes from exposure to facial dirt and bacteria.

Face washing

Poor facial hygiene (having a dirty face) is associated with trachoma infection. Improving facial hygiene through face washing has been promoted as a strategy for preventing the disease. A number of surveys have found that children with cleaner faces are less likely to have trachoma. Studies which have assessed the effectiveness of face washing on preventing trachoma have found that combining face washing with the application of antibiotic creams or ointments are more effective than either face washing or antibiotic application alone.

Washing and removing objects from the eyes

Keeping the face clean promotes eye cleanliness, however in some situations the eyes themselves will require cleaning, or foreign objects will need to be removed from eyes. It is important that individuals ensure they wash their hands thoroughly before washing or removing a foreign object from their eye, or another person’s eye (e.g. a child’s eye).

Washing children’s eyes

In order to prevent the introduction of bacteria, parents should wash their child’s eyes if they appear dirty or sticky. Boiled water which has cooled to body temperature should be used. Normal bath water should not be used as it will contain bacteria from the child’s body.

Parents should wash their hands before cleaning a child’s eye and use a fresh cotton wool swab each time they wipe an eye. The cotton wool should be dipped in the cooled, boiled water and squeezed to remove excess water. It should then be used to wipe the child’s eye gently, starting at the nose and working outwards. If the child’s eye remains sticky, the parent should take a fresh piece of cotton wool and repeat the cleaning process.

Removing foreign objects from eyes

Small foreign objects which enter the eye are often removed by the eye’s natural cleaning mechanisms of tears and blinking. However, in some cases blinking and tears will not remove a foreign object and human intervention may be needed. If children needs help removing a foreign object from the eye, parents should:

1. Wash their hands thoroughly before assisting the child;
2. Examine the eye in a well lit area, by asking the child to look up, down, left and right. This will usually enable the parent to see the foreign object;
3. Rinse the eye with a gentle flow of water to try and dislodge the foreign object;
4. If rinsing fails, a clean cotton tip can be used to remove objects stuck on the eyelids, but the cotton tip should not come into contact with the eye’s surface.

If a foreign object penetrates the eye’s surface, parents should not remove the object and seek immediate medical attention.

If a chemical substance enters the eyes parents should flush the eye with tap water or saline solution immediately. Once the eye is flushed, emergency medical treatment should be sought.

Antibiotic treatment to prevent trachoma progression

Early treatment of trachoma with antibiotics is effective in preventing progression of the disease and alleviating symptoms such as vision loss and eye irritation. Antibiotics can be administered either orally or topically. However, it is important to note that antibiotic treatment can only cure existing infection and is not a strategy which can control transmission of new infections.

Improving sanitation and environmental conditions

The health of an individual’s environment also affects their health, and many diseases are associated with poor environmental conditions such as lack of water and sanitation. These conditions are characteristic of remote Indigenous communities in Australia, where trachoma infection remains rife.

Trachoma is one disease which is associated with inadequate environmental health (such as overcrowding and poor sanitation). Numerous environmental improvement interventions have been implemented in developing countries in an attempt to prevent trachoma infection. These include the provision of water and sanitation facilities (in particular pit latrines to control fly populations) and insecticide spraying to eradicate infection carrying flies.

There is some evidence that insecticide spraying can reduce active trachoma, Studies also suggest that broad environmental health interventions (e.g. combined provision of pit latrines and clean water alongside insecticide spraying) can reduce trachoma prevalence.

References

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