Your eye health depends a lot on your hands: Here's how

Most people associate eye health with screen time, diet, or regular eye check-ups. Not that they are wrong, but one of the biggest factors affecting your eyes often gets unnoticed - your hands.

With that said, Firstpost spoke with Dr Minal Kanhere, Consultant Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon, Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Mumbai, who shared with us her expert inputs on the same.

The role of hands in eye health explained

“Our hands are constantly in contact with unclean surfaces such as mobile phones, keyboards, door handles, elevator buttons and handrails in public places,” says Dr Minal Kanhere. “Touching or rubbing the eyes unknowingly after touching these surfaces leads to direct transfer of pathogens to the eyes.”

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According to Dr Kanhere, while people are usually taught to wash their hands before meals, hand hygiene is equally important for maintaining eye health. Unclean hands can carry bacteria, viruses, fungal spores and allergens that may trigger infections and irritation when transferred to the eyes.

How dirty hands affect the eyes

Many common eye conditions can spread through contaminated hands or fingers. These include conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, allergic reactions, styes and, in severe cases, corneal ulcers that can threaten vision.

“The risk of corneal ulcers is particularly high in contact lens users,” Dr Kanhere explains. Handling lenses with unclean hands significantly increases the chances of infection, making proper hygiene essential before inserting or removing lenses.

Children are also especially vulnerable because they frequently touch their faces and eyes without realising it. Experts note that repeated rubbing of the eyes can worsen irritation and increase the spread of germs.

Why proper handwashing matters

Dr Kanhere emphasises that hand hygiene involves more than a quick rinse. “Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and clean running water for 20 to 30 seconds,” she says. “It is important to clean all parts of the hands properly, including the fingertips and spaces between the fingers.”

While alcohol-based sanitisers can help when soap and water are unavailable, washing with soap remains the preferred method wherever possible.

Situations when hand hygiene becomes crucial

Experts recommend washing hands carefully before and after putting in eye drops, applying eye make-up, inserting or removing contact lenses, touching or rubbing the eyes, and coughing or sneezing.

“It is best to avoid touching or rubbing the eyes altogether,” says Dr Kanhere.

She also points out that children who repeatedly rub their eyes may sometimes require an eye check-up. “Incorrect spectacle power or unaddressed vision problems can lead to frequent eye rubbing, which may result in recurrent styes or infections,” she explains.

Clean towels and spectacles matter too

Eye hygiene goes beyond handwashing alone. Regular cleaning of spectacles is important to prevent the build-up of dirt and germs.

Face towels should also be washed frequently and never shared with others, as this can lead to cross-contamination and spread infections.

In cases of conjunctivitis or other eye infections, frequent handwashing becomes even more important to avoid transmitting the infection to family members or classmates. Dr Kanhere also advises regularly sanitising commonly touched surfaces such as mobile phones and door handles.

Prevention starts with awareness

Experts believe good hygiene habits should be encouraged early, especially among children at home and in schools. Simple practices like proper handwashing can significantly reduce the risk of many eye infections and complications.

“The simple practice of handwashing should be promoted widely because prevention is always better than cure,” says Dr Kanhere. “Hand hygiene is a simple, cost-effective and efficient way to protect eye health.”