Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome RemediesOver-the-Counter (OTC) TherapiesPrescriptionsEmergency CareFAQNext in Pink Eye GuideWhat Is Conjunctivitis?
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Home Remedies
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies
Prescriptions
Emergency Care
FAQ
Next in Pink Eye Guide
Mild conjunctivitis, while uncomfortable, may resolve on its own. Other cases may require antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, topical steroids to reduce inflammation, and supportive therapies (such as cold compresses and artificial tears) to help alleviate the pain and discomfort.
This article discusses treatments for pink eye. It explains how to relieve conjunctivitis symptoms at home and medications used to treat the underlying causes of pink eye.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Mildconjunctivitiswill typically cause redness in one or both eyes as well as itchiness, burning, excessive tearing, and a gritty sensation whenever you blink.
Whatever the underlying cause, mild cases may not require treatment. Pink eye often improves on its own in a day or two, though it may take a few weeks to clear up entirely.
While you wait, home remedies can be used to ease discomfort. They can also be used in tandem with medications prescribed for other forms of pink eye.
Self-Care Tips
The home treatment of conjunctivitis would be focused on alleviating discomfort, supporting healing, and preventing the further spread of infection.
If it has a viral or bacterial cause, a warm compress can remove crusting and soothe irritation. (To avoid the spread of infection from one eye to the next, use separate compresses for each eye and a fresh set of compresses for each treatment.)
If you wearcontact lenses, it is best to remove them until your symptoms are fully resolved.Throw out any disposable contacts you’ve worn to prevent reinfection.
Non-disposable contacts can be disinfected overnight using a hydrogen peroxide solution for contact lenses. However, if your contacts are near the end of their lifespan, you may just want to replace them. Ask your eye doctor for guidance.
Home Prevention
If the cause of the pink eye is infectious, such as withepidemickeratoconjunctivitis(EKC)outbreaks in daycare centers and schools, you and your family need to take precautions to avoid the further spread of infection (or re-infection). This includes:
There are many different variations, some of which contain lipids to mimic real tears (such as Refresh Optic Advance and Soothe from Bausch & Lomb) and others that are preservative-free to reduce the risk of allergy (such as TheraTears and Alcon Systane).
If an allergy is the underlying cause of your pink eye, an over-the-counterantihistaminelike Claritin (loratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), or Allegra (fexofenadine) can help reduce itchiness.Antihistamine eye dropsare also effective in providing fast relief.
Certain forms of conjunctivitis may greatly benefit from prescription medication, while others require it.
Medications for Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis generally lasts for one to two weeks and will usually resolve on its own. If the symptoms fail to improve after five days, your healthcare provider may recommend antibioticeye drops(typically a broad-spectrum antibiotic able to treat multiple bacterial types).
The most commonly prescribed antibiotic medications include:
Whilecorticosteroideye drops may be prescribed, their use remains controversial. While effective in alleviating inflammation, they can actually slow the healing process and may even “melt” the conjunctival membrane if overused. They also can cause eye pressure to rise, leading to glaucoma and optic nerve damage.
Treating Viral Conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is the type most familiar to parents with school-aged children.
In the rare event that complications ensue, a topical antiviral such as cidofovir may be prescribed. Even then, these are generally reserved for people with compromised immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV infection.
Theherpes simplex virus (HSV)is a less common cause of conjunctivitis but arguably a more problematic one, as it is more likely to recur.
Treatment may involve a watch-and-wait approach if the condition is mild. Severe cases, in which corneal damage is possible, can be treated with a topical antiviral, such as ganciclovir gel, trifluridine eye drops, or vidarabine ointment.
Medicines for Allergic Conjunctivitis
Most cases of allergic conjunctivitis are treated conservatively with OTC antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
If symptoms are persistent or recurrent,mast cell stabilizers, such as Alomide (lodoxamide) or Alocril (nedocromil), are available in prescription eye drops. In cases of atopic keratoconjunctivitis, in which the risk of vision loss is higher, the combined use of a topical mast cell stabilizer and an oral or topical corticosteroid is usually effective.
For cases ofgiant papillary conjunctivitis, in which chronic exposure to contact lenses and other foreign objects can cause pimple-like bumps on the inner eyelid, treatment typically involves the removal of the foreign object.
Mast cell stabilizers or topical corticosteroids may be used in cases where the foreign object (such as sutures or an eye prosthetic) is less readily removed. Switching fromhard lenses to soft lensesmay also prevent recurrence.
Treating Neonatal Conjunctivitis
Forchlamydial conjunctivitis, topical tetracycline or erythromycin ointment would be applied four times daily for three weeks, as well as systemic erythromycin to reduce the risk of pneumonia.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can see yourprimary carehealthcare provider for pink eye. You only need to see a healthcare provider if you have certain symptoms, such as extreme redness, pain, sensitivity to light. andblurry vision, or if your immune system is weak due to cancer treatment or a chronic illness. The healthcare provider may refer you to an optometrist orophthalmologistif you need special care.
Viral conjunctivitis can be spread to other people before it causes symptoms and for as long as symptoms last. Bacterial conjunctivitis is consideredcontagiousuntil 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to treat pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent pink eye.Hein AM, Gupta PK.Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: Prevention strategies in the clinic.Comprehensive Opthalmic Pearls.Weiner G.Demystifying the ocular herpes simplex virus.Eyenet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye in newborns.Matejcek A, Goldman RD.Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(11):1187-90.TeensHealth from Nemours.Pinkeye (conjunctivitis).Additional ReadingAzher T, Yin X, Tajfirouz D.Herpes simplex keratitis: challenges in diagnosis and clinical management.Clin Ophthalmol.2017;11:185-91. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S80475.Bilkhu P, Wolffsohn J, Naroo S.Effectiveness of nonpharmacologic treatments for acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.Ophthalmology.2014;121(1):72-78. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.08.007
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to treat pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent pink eye.Hein AM, Gupta PK.Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: Prevention strategies in the clinic.Comprehensive Opthalmic Pearls.Weiner G.Demystifying the ocular herpes simplex virus.Eyenet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye in newborns.Matejcek A, Goldman RD.Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(11):1187-90.TeensHealth from Nemours.Pinkeye (conjunctivitis).Additional ReadingAzher T, Yin X, Tajfirouz D.Herpes simplex keratitis: challenges in diagnosis and clinical management.Clin Ophthalmol.2017;11:185-91. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S80475.Bilkhu P, Wolffsohn J, Naroo S.Effectiveness of nonpharmacologic treatments for acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.Ophthalmology.2014;121(1):72-78. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.08.007
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to treat pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent pink eye.Hein AM, Gupta PK.Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: Prevention strategies in the clinic.Comprehensive Opthalmic Pearls.Weiner G.Demystifying the ocular herpes simplex virus.Eyenet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye in newborns.Matejcek A, Goldman RD.Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(11):1187-90.TeensHealth from Nemours.Pinkeye (conjunctivitis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to treat pink eye.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent pink eye.
Hein AM, Gupta PK.Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: Prevention strategies in the clinic.Comprehensive Opthalmic Pearls.
Weiner G.Demystifying the ocular herpes simplex virus.Eyenet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pink eye in newborns.
Matejcek A, Goldman RD.Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum.Can Fam Physician. 2013;59(11):1187-90.
TeensHealth from Nemours.Pinkeye (conjunctivitis).
Azher T, Yin X, Tajfirouz D.Herpes simplex keratitis: challenges in diagnosis and clinical management.Clin Ophthalmol.2017;11:185-91. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S80475.Bilkhu P, Wolffsohn J, Naroo S.Effectiveness of nonpharmacologic treatments for acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.Ophthalmology.2014;121(1):72-78. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.08.007
Azher T, Yin X, Tajfirouz D.Herpes simplex keratitis: challenges in diagnosis and clinical management.Clin Ophthalmol.2017;11:185-91. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S80475.
Bilkhu P, Wolffsohn J, Naroo S.Effectiveness of nonpharmacologic treatments for acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.Ophthalmology.2014;121(1):72-78. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.08.007
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