How is pink eye treated?

Treatment is mostly supportive for pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections. It is important to minimize exposure of others by washing your hands frequently and throwing away used tissues. Do not share towels or pillow cases. Consider staying home from work or school until you are symptom-free for 24 hours.

If you are a contact lens wearer, you should discontinue their use and stick with glasses until your infection clears. Then start with a fresh pair of lenses and a clean lens case.

Your Eye M.D. can help you distinguish between different types of red eyes.

The most common cause for pink eye is a virus. This usually comes from a viral cold, sore throat or flu. As with most viral infections, the body will improve its immunity and clear the virus and the effects of the infection (such as pink eye). Therefore no antibiotics are necessary to cure a viral pink eye. Like most viral infections pink eye is easily spread by close contact and the infected patient should be careful not to spread this germ to others.

Bacterial conjunctivitis usually presents with thick discharge and will respond to antibiotics.It tends to be less easily spread but still should be isolated from others. It is often difficult for a patient to tell if a oink eye is viral or bacterial.