Pink Eye: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Apply Compresses Several Times Daily

Depending on the type of conjunctivitis a patient has, a good means of symptom relief may be to apply compresses several times daily. Artificial tears and cool compresses can be combined to provide relief in mild cases of allergic conjunctivitis. If individuals have viral conjunctivitis, there won't be an eyedrop or antibiotic treatment method that can cause the symptoms to clear up faster. Instead, the best means of relief will be through the use of cool compresses. Some patients might find warm compresses offer more comfort and relief than cool compresses, so the temperature they use is up to them.

To make a compress, take a clean washcloth and soak it in warm or cool water. Then, they should fold the damp cloth and place it gently over the irritated eye. The combination of temperature change and moisture can alleviate inflammation and pain. Patients can apply a compress for as long as it's helpful, and they can re-soak and reapply it however often they want.

Antihistamine Or Anti-Inflammatory Eye Drops

Some forms of conjunctivitis, like viral conjunctivitis, can't be treated or improved with medicinal eye drops. However, this isn't the case for all types of pink eye. The treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the condition. For some individuals, treatment may involve antihistamine or anti-inflammatory eye drops to ease the symptoms and speed healing. The purpose of these eye drops is basically what it sounds like. Anti-inflammatory drops are designed to mitigate the inflammatory response from the body, which may exist in response to bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis.

Antihistamines are designed to combat the body's histamine levels, which rise significantly during an allergic reaction. Rather than stopping the body from producing antihistamines, antihistamine medications protect the body from the effects of histamines. This means they aren't able to stop or slow the course of an allergic reaction, but they are capable of lessening the irritation. A doctor might prescribe medicated eye drops if a patient is having pink eye symptoms that interfere with day-to-day functioning.