By Analou De Vera The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public to practice good hand hygiene to avoid the spread of conjunctivitis or sore eyes, which is most common during this time of the year. (MANILA BULLETIN) The health department described sore eyes as "a redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjunctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the inner parts of the eyelids." A person with sore eyes usually suffers from itching and redness, presence of watery pus-like discharge, pain upon exposure to sunlight, and eyelids stuck together upon waking up. The infection usually lasts from 5 to 12 days, the DOH said. The health department said that there is no specific treatment for sore eyes during its acute phase of at least one to two weeks. "If eye discharge is profuse and pus-like or patient develops blurring vision or severe pain, consult with an ophthalmologist," the DOH reminded. To prevent from acquiring this disease, the DOH said that the public should frequently wash their hands, minimize hand-to-eye contact, use personal kits like towels, make-up, sunglasses, and eyedrops, disinfect materials usually touched by hands, and wash clothes, pillow cases, and anything else which may have contact with a person infected with sore eyes.