Pink Eye: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Treatments For Pink Eye

Treating pink eye is normally focused on relieving symptoms. For instance, a doctor may recommend cleaning the eyelids with a wet cloth and using cold or warm compresses a few times per day. If the patient wears contacts, they will be encouraged to refrain from wearing them until pink eye has completely subsided. Any contacts worn while the patient was developing pink eye may also be recommended to be thrown out if they are disposable.

If pink eye is due to bacteria, antibiotics may be prescribed to relieve the symptoms within two to four days. However, the patient can usually return to their normal routines such as school or work after twenty-four hours after beginning antibiotics. Other forms of treatment may include eye drops, and if pink eye is due to an allergy, medications like antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids and anti-inflammatory drops may prove to be useful.

Use Artificial Tears

Pink eye treatment is typically based on offering symptom relief. For some types of pink eye, it can be helpful to use artificial tears to alleviate the discomfort. This is particularly true of pink eye cases where the eyes become dried-out and irritated. Pink eye occurs due to an irritation or infection of the tear film coating the eyes, which may keep that film from functioning as well as it should. The result is dryness and discomfort around the eyes. Artificial tears are available over-the-counter in most areas, and they can lubricate dry eyes to make sure tear film stays moisturized.

In addition to treating pink eye, artificial tears can be used to treat dry eyes caused by dozens of other conditions. The two main types of eye drops are those with preservatives and those without. Because chemical preservatives can irritate the eyes, it's best to use preservative-free formulas when treating pink eye. This will help keep the eyes from becoming more irritated, which may help speed up the healing process.