question re: pink eye and mask . . .

This morning I woke with what is likely pink eye infection-
any thoughts on precautions/cleaning the mask that I used last night-
should be disinfected just in case some of the goop from my eye was rubbed
onto the mask?

Thanks bunches

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) can be caused by many different bacterial or viruses. Yes, I would use the gentle soap, soaping up with friction and warm water for anything that touches near your eye. I've had conjunctivitis a few times as a previous contact lens wearer, and needed antibiotic drops. Even with this almost immediate treatment, my cornea is permanently slightly scarred, so don't hesitate to have this looked at.

PAP tends to dry the eyes. I use an eye ointment every night which has resolved the issue. Underlying many cases of bacterial conjunctivitis is a dry eye, so ask whoever you see about this aspect too.

Thanks-
Kaiser actually prescribes the antibiotic drops/ointment via a phone call without seeing the patient. usually they give me drops but this time ointment- haven't had pink eye since starting on PAP. (meaning I have had pink eye over the past few years, but this is the first time since being on PAP.

Yes, I would use the gentle soap, soaping up with friction and warm water for anything that touches near your eye.

+1

Soap does a very good job of killing bacteria and viruses.

Soap is a surfactant which reduces the surface tension of individual virus and bacteria cells to the point that the internal pressure causes them to explode - gone, dead.

ChicagoGramps

I'm in a HMO too, so the antibiotic drops could be quickly prescribed.

Does the Wisp shoot any air near your eyes? Do your eyes itch more or feel scratchy after starting PAP? For me, I found the nasal mask leaking more air around my eyes, so I switched back to the pillows. I'm staying abreast with the reviews on the AirFit, wondering if the new venting system would even further decrease any blown air towards my eyes. With the Swift FX, I can rotate the vent downwards, but the AirFit does not seem to need to have that feature. Once your eyes are dried, they pick up bacteria so easily.

I am in transition to find a better mask for myself-
finally I was able to get the nano, but I haven't yet tried it, because
a couple of weeks ago, I was catching a cold with a lot of congestion- that is mostly over-
they gave me some full face type of masks to try out while I was dealing with
the congestion, and even though the cold is long gone,
they gave me 3 masks to try - the first two did not work at all for me,
and this last one I think works but might be a little small-
and from time to time during the night blow air sometimes in the eyes.

hmm, for the next week while I am finishing up with the antibiotic ointments, I am going
to go ahead and go back to the wisp, and then afterward, try out the nano

I have the Nano and use it with care fusion ruby red chin strap. It occasionally will direct some air from the vent in strange places. I have an overhead hose hanger and it helps a lot.
You don't get as much air in the eyes as you do with a full face. If you get a good seal with the nano you shouldn't have leaks. I'll bet your eye irritation was not pink eye, but irritation from the air. Keep trying to use the "right mask" Nano is a good start.

Lukie wrote:I have the Nano and use it with care fusion ruby red chin strap. It occasionally will direct some air from the vent in strange places. I have an overhead hose hanger and it helps a lot.
You don't get as much air in the eyes as you do with a full face. If you get a good seal with the nano you shouldn't have leaks. I'll bet your eye irritation was not pink eye, but irritation from the air. Keep trying to use the "right mask" Nano is a good start.

that is very interesting- i was kind of worried because i am about to go on a trip- and didn't want to have the weekend come about and then find that I could not take my journey due to needing to deal with pink eye- hmmm, the thing i noticed was that in the morning i had lots of goop in my eyes, not shut tight like the previous times when i had pink eye, but it caused me to wonder-
I think those of you who mentioned the air in the eye thing probably are be correct-
and that it likely wasn't pink eye, but it was the mask blowing air into my eyes causing the irritation and mucous and gritty feeling . . .