--- title: In the EYE of the beholder description: In the EYE of the beholder --- - **[SEARCH](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/search-0)** ** - **[CONTACT US](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/contact-us)** - **SDS** - [**Companion Animal**](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/companion-animal-msds) - [**Farm Animal**](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/farm-animal-msds) ## Something Powerful # Resources     ## In the EYE of the beholder Flu season is officially here!  The [geographic distribution](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/#S5) of confirmed flu cases has been steadily increasing week over week – 6 US states are reporting regional distribution this week, which doubled from last week.  The unfortunate truth is that it’s not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. While the flu spreads every year, the timing, severity, and length of the season is unpredictable. Generally, seasonal flu activity occurs between October and May with it peaking in North America between December and February.  In my neck of the woods (Ontario, Canada) we see our biggest peak during the week of Christmas....not the type of present most of us are dreaming of! As we’ve done a number of blogs on [influenza](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2013/10/cleaning-hand-hygiene-vaccination-few.html), I’m not going to repeat [signs](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2011/11/eww-you-have-flu.html), [symptoms](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2012/11/tag-youre-it.html) or [hints](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-burden-of-you-and-flu.html) to keeping you healthy.  However, after reading an interesting summary of a [survey conducted by the CDC](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6432a2.htm?s_cid=mm6432a2_w) highlighting the fact that almost all of the 41 million estimated contact lens wearers in the United States are engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections, I thought it would be the perfect reminder of how cold and flu viruses are spread.  The survey concluded that more than 99% of survey respondents reported at least one risky behavior such as; keeping their contact lens cases for longer than recommended (82%); “Topping off” solution in the case—adding new solution to the existing solution instead of emptying the case out fully before adding new solution (55%); or wearing their lenses while sleeping (50%). So let’s talk about risky behavior.  [Topping off](http://talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2012/02/miss-manners-proper-etiquette-for.html) with any form of disinfectant is a BAD idea.  You need the right concentration to kill bugs.  I’m surprised they didn’t ask the question to find out if people perform hand hygiene before putting in, taking out or adjusting contacts. If we are going to talk about risky business, that is definitely one of them! Most cough, cold and flu viruses are believed to be passed from person to person by contact with respiratory droplets through direct bodily contact (such as kissing) or touching something with virus on it (such as shaking hands with someone who has the flu) and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.   Combine this with the fact there is a plethora of scientific evidence that[ people touch their faces](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/touching-your-face_n_3568126.html) an average of 3.6 times per hour, and common objects an average of 3.3 times per hour means that germs get on our hands much more frequently than we wash them off!  Being a person who used to wear contacts, I know that I had a horrible rate of self-touching - in fact I stopped wearing contacts due to dry eyes which lead to my constantly rubbing or touching them with my fingers which eventually lead to getting an ulcer. As peak flu season is only 6 weeks away, I hope you’ll start thinking about where your fingers have been - and if you wear contacts ensure that you wash your hands before you touch your eyes to avoid your risk of getting the flu! *Bugging Off!* Nicole ## Search All Resources ## Browse by Category - MSDS/SDS - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/companion-animal-msds) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/farm-animal-msds) - [Protocols & Procedures](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/protocols-and-procedures-companion-animal) - • Farm Animal → [CDN](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/farm-animal-canada) | [USA](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/protocols-and-procedures-farm-animal) - [Technical Bulletins](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/techncial-bulletins-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/technical-bulletins-farm-animal) - [Pathogen Fact Sheets](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/pathogen-fact-sheets) - [Industry Guidelines](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-guidelines) - [Industry Publications](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-publications-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-publications-farm-animal) - [Product Use Information](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/product-use-information-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/product-use-information-farm-animal) - [Reference Sheets](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/reference-sheets-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/reference-sheets-farm-animal) - [AHP® Abstracts & Research Posters](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-abstracts-research-posters-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-abstracts-research-posters-farm-animal) - [AHP® Peer Reviewed Articles](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2015/11/in-eye-of-beholder.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-peer-reviewed-articles-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-peer-reviewed-articles-farm-animal) - [AHP® vs Competitive Chemistries ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-vs-competitive-chemistries) - [ AHP® Compatibility ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/ahp-compatibility) - [ Testimonials ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/testimonials) - [ Videos ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/videos) - [ Fear Free](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/fear-free-and-ahp) - [ Blog](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/blog)       [![BottomLogoGrey-VAH](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ViroxAnimalHealth/Logos/BottomLogoGrey-VAH.jpg?width=100&name=BottomLogoGrey-VAH.jpg "BottomLogoGrey-VAH")](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/contact-us)  |  [PRIVACY POLICY](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/privacy-policy)  |  [TERMS OF USE](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/terms-of-use) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.youtube.com/user/ViroxAHP) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/virox-animal-health) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://twitter.com/AHPbiosecurity) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.facebook.com/ViroxAnimalHealth/)   © 2003-2022 VIROX TECHNOLOGIES INC [Virox® Animal Health is a division of Virox® Technologies Inc.](http://www.virox.com/) Website by [BOLD](http://www.boldinternet.com/) AHP® and Design and Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® and Design are trademarks of Diversey, Inc.