Do you disinfect your view finder?

[simmeow]

Just to share. I am suffering an eye infection. I assure you none of you out there would want to live through it.

Anyway, this is how it happened. I accidentally injured my right eye. After a few minutes of discomfort, all things seem well. At least well enough for me to go for an evening shoot.

Tragic happened the following morning. My eye was red and tears non stop.

After consulting the GP and referred to a specialist. I was told I had a cornea abrasion and also infection. The abrasion was mild but the infection was horrendous.


The specialist had to do a culture sample on the infection. They had to scrape my cornea which worsen the irritation.

Then I came to think of the whole incident. I realized that it could be due to the placement of my right eye over the eye cup of the view finder that caused the infection on an already injured eye.

I am going back to disinfect my camera once I am out of the hospital.

I hope none of you will suffer as I did. Take care all fellow snappers.

 

[hongsien]

How did you injure your eye? More likely that the item that made contact with your cornea caused the infection.

I was once walking below a sunshield of some shop, and the water dribbled down, and one of the droplets landed into my left eye (I wear specs), the next day I had a mild infection and had to use antibiotics on it..........

 

[night86mare]

huh, i don't think really need to disinfect viewfinder la... ... ...

 

[Abbot Man]

Thanks for the heads-up ! I wear glasses and do not come in contact with eye cap of the viewfinder !!

 

[wdEvA]

I wear glasses too, so I'm more on the "safe" side I guess.
There's a possiblilty that the infection was due to the viewfinder, but I feel that it might not be the case.
but anyway, it would be good to disinfect it =)

 

[kwttan]

I will be more careful in future as I do not wear spec.

 

[simmeow]

It better to be safe than sorry. I am now at the hospital waiting to be discharged. Luckily I still can make my Hong Kong trip tomorrow.

At least I have a trophy, a red eye to bring along in this trip.

 

[commonjunks]

How did you injure your eye? More likely that the item that made contact with your cornea caused the infection.

I was once walking below a sunshield of some shop, and the water dribbled down, and one of the droplets landed into my left eye (I wear specs), the next day I had a mild infection and had to use antibiotics on it..........

+1, it could be already infected when it was injured?

 

[simmeow]

+1, it could be already infected when it was injured?

It was a piece of xray film that injured my eye. I was okay until the next morning. Anyway, it can also be the cause, but I am going to play it safe from now. I did notice the eye cup is kind of dirty. A lesson for me.

 

[commonjunks]

It was a piece of xray film that injured my eye. I was okay until the next morning. Anyway, it can also be the cause, but I am going to play it safe from now. I did notice the eye cup is kind of dirty. A lesson for me.

Get well soon.
Sometimes things happen when least expected, so it would be safe to keep viewfinder clean (at least for peace of mind).

 

[hotwork77]

It was a piece of xray film that injured my eye. I was okay until the next morning. Anyway, it can also be the cause, but I am going to play it safe from now. I did notice the eye cup is kind of dirty. A lesson for me.

Clean it with Denatured Alcohol. It cleans/disinfects the area without damaging the silicon rubber.

 

[Timolol]

I will be more careful in future as I do not wear spec.

For those who are concerned about bacteria going from the viewfinder eyecup to the eye, there is no need to be overly alarmed. In a situation where the cornea is healthy, it is very unlikely for an infection to occur in this way. Washing one's face might be more risky since there could be microorganisms in the tap water, but we don't see a massive number of infections from people washing their faces in the morning right :bsmilie:.

When there is an abrasion, the integrity of the cornea is affected and hence allows bacteria / fungus to set in. If anyone needs help in sleeping, this is quite informative: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1195402-overview

Anyway, usually we just give broad spectrum antibiotics and monitor for improvement. Obtaining the sample is just in case the antibiotics does not work, the lab would be able to identify the microorganism so that a specific / narrow spectrum antibiotics can be given, which reduces side effects as well.

Just my two cents

 

[simmeow]

Clean it with Denatured Alcohol. It cleans/disinfects the area without damaging the silicon rubber.

Thanks for the tip. I just cleaned my viewfinder. Now getting ready for my trip. Good luck everyone

 

[simmeow]

For those who are concerned about bacteria going from the viewfinder eyecup to the eye, there is no need to be overly alarmed. In a situation where the cornea is healthy, it is very unlikely for an infection to occur in this way. Washing one's face might be more risky since there could be microorganisms in the tap water, but we don't see a massive number of infections from people washing their faces in the morning right :bsmilie:.

When there is an abrasion, the integrity of the cornea is affected and hence allows bacteria / fungus to set in. If anyone needs help in sleeping, this is quite informative: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1195402-overview

Anyway, usually we just give broad spectrum antibiotics and monitor for improvement. Obtaining the sample is just in case the antibiotics does not work, the lab would be able to identify the microorganism so that a specific / narrow spectrum antibiotics can be given, which reduces side effects as well.

Just my two cents

Wow, you sound like my doctor. Do you happen to work in Alexander Hospital Clinic C???

 

[Timolol]

Wow, you sound like my doctor. Do you happen to work in Alexander Hospital Clinic C???

:bsmilie: nope.

 

[Override2Zion]

I think there are many other possibilities of getting an eye infection, all we can do is ensure hygiene and cleanliness of everything that can come in contact with our eyes. I once took a river boat ride in Thailand and somehow i got an eye infection from the bits of splashing water that got onto my face. It was a terrible experience with the eyes swollen and stuff. Do get well soon.