Your doctor can prescribe antibiotic eye drops. According to a review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , using antibiotic eyedrops can shorten the duration of pink eye. If you have pink eye in only one eye, your goal is to treat the affected eye without infecting the other eye.
If your other eye gets infected, that will extend the length of the illness. Keep anything you use on the affected eye away from the other eye. Also, wash your hands as much as possible, especially after you touch your eye.
These steps can help minimize irritation so your body can keep fighting whatever is causing your pink eye. Pink eye is highly contagious. Newborns can get pink eye, usually anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks after birth.
Sometimes, this is due to an outside cause like infection or a blocked tear duct. Other times, a mom may have accidentally exposed her baby to bacteria or viruses when the baby passed through her birth canal. Examples include chlamydia, genital herpes , or gonorrhea. A doctor can examine the eye and recommend treatments, such as:. If a newborn has an eye infection due to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, they may need intravenous IV antibiotics. This type of infection can be serious and lead to permanent eye damage if left untreated.
Most of them will only irritate your eyes and potentially make pink eye worse. Here are some things to avoid:. You could save yourself from some potential eye damage and discomfort. Not everything that looks like pink eye is pink eye. Plus, sometimes you can have a really bad case that requires medical attention. See your doctor if you have the following symptoms:.
Pinkeye affects 6 million people in the United States each year and is a major driver of emergency room visits for ocular problems. There are three types: viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis. Most cases are caused by viral infections or allergies and do not respond to antibiotics.
Artificial tears and warm compresses may help keep the eye comfortable while viral conjunctivitis runs its course. Antibiotics are often unnecessary for bacterial conjunctivitis because most cases are mild and would resolve on their own within seven to 14 days without treatment.
Cause unknown. It is a challenge to differentiate bacterial conjunctivitis from the viral and allergic forms. All three types may have overlapping features, such as a red eye, thin discharge, irritation and sensitivity to light.
Health care providers may be unsure of the cause and prescribe antibiotics "just in case. School policies. Children with pinkeye may not be able to attend school or day care unless they are being treated, presumably to reduce transmission. In an accompanying editorial, such policies were called "highly inconvenient for patients and parents" and "devoid of evidence," considering the more rapidly spreading viral conjunctivitis is unlikely to be influenced by a topical antibiotic. Treatment can include:.
Pink eye can be contagious if it is caused by a virus. The risk of spread is higher when there is drainage from the eye. The virus can be survive on surfaces for up to two weeks. To help prevent the spread of infection:. For treatments related to pink eye and other common conditions, the Wilmer Eye Institute's comprehensive eye care team is here to help. Children: Viral pink eye is one of the leading causes of school absence among children, with large outbreaks often seen in day care centers and schools.
Newborn babies: Though rare, newborn babies can get pink eye through a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhea that is passed on during childbirth. Corneal abrasion: A superficial scratch of the cornea causing sharp pain, increased shedding of tears and redness. Foreign body in the eye: A foreign object can irritate the cornea or conjunctiva, causing redness and discomfort.
Dry eyes: Redness of the eye due to chronic irritation caused by inadequate tears that results in dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva. Blepharitis: A chronic inflammation of the eyelid that may also cause recurrent styes. Subconjunctival hemorrhage: A broken blood vessel can cause a bloodshot, red appearance on the white part of the eye with no pain or other symptoms.
Episcleritis: An inflammation of the tissue that lies between the conjunctiva and the white part of the eye. Acute glaucoma: A sudden increase in eye pressure causing redness, severe pain and decreased vision. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is an irritation or infection of the conjunctiva, the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and the whites of the eyes. Ophthalmologist Sezen Karakus, M.
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