Pink Eye Treatment

Looking for information on pink eye treatment? Pink eye is an eye disorder that is also known as conjunctivitis. When you get pink eye, common symptoms you may experience include redness, itchiness, tearing, discharge and/or a gritty feeling in one or both eyes. Being that pink eye is highly contagious, it is recommended that you begin treatment as quickly as possible. Treating pink eye depends on the type of pink eye you have.

To treat pink eye, you will need to:

• Make an appointment to see the doctor

1. Bacterial Pink Eye Antibiotic eyedrops are the most common form of treatment for bacterial pink eye. Once you begin taking the eyedrops, your infection should resolve itself within a few days. Antibiotic eye ointment is another treatment option for bacterial pink eye, but that is usually reserved for children because it is easier to administer than eyedrops.
2. Viral Pink Eye Unfortunately, there are no treatment options available for viral pink eye. However, if you have viral pink eye that is the result of herpes simplex virus, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication. You will simply need to let the virus run its course, which can take as long as two to three weeks. Don't be surprised if your pink eye spreads from one eye to another.
3. Allergic Pink Eye There are many different types of eyedrops that are available for pink eye caused by allergies. Your doctor may prescribe to you anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, steroids, mast cell stabilizers and/or decongestants. If you can pinpoint the cause of your allergies, avoiding that cause is another good form of treatment for allergic pink eye.

Make sure you follow your doctor's orders at all times. If you are given a medication to treat your pink eye, continue taking the medication until it is finished unless you have been told otherwise by your doctor.