Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is caused by bacteria entering the inner tissues of your eye, which causes inflammation.
Treatment involves symptom control, which usually includes application of eye drops to reduce redness and irritation. Treatment can also include using topical antibiotic medications, such as erythromycin, clindamycin, penicillin, tetracycline, and minocycline.
Treatments for pink eye can vary depending on the type of pink eye you have. It is also important to note that treatment can be effective for some but not for others.
The most common form of pink eye is conjunctivitis, which can be treated using topical antibiotic medications. If the pink eye is conjunctivitis, your doctor will typically recommend applying either sterile cotton pads or lenses to reduce irritation and treat the redness and warmth that usually occur after an allergy or cold. There are also over-the-counter eye drops and topical creams that can help treat the irritation caused by a pink eye.
In a more serious case of red eye, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, usually ointment or eye drops. These medicines should be used in the context of treatment for pink eye, which will help prevent further complications. For example, if you have had any allergic reaction to bacteria from an eye infection, you should avoid antibiotic medications until the medication has cleared up the infection.
One way to make sure you get the best possible treatment for your pink eye is to contact your eye doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you more information and advise you on the best course of action. Your doctor will examine your eyes, talk to you about symptoms and decide whether your pink eye is caused by an allergy or an infection. He or she will then make suggestions on how to treat your eye.
If your pink eye is an infection, your doctor will likely recommend the use of antibiotic medication to kill off the bacteria causing your pink eye. If this is successful, the treatment will only be used for that infection and will not be used again if symptoms recur. This method can be very effective for some cases of pink eye, especially those that don’t respond well to other types of treatment.
If the pink eye you have isn’t an infection, your doctor may advise you to use over-the-counter ointments to treat your red eye, but not all cases of pink eye require the use ointments.
Of course, if you are at risk for other complications from an infection, it’s best to see your eye doctor for proper treatment. Your doctor may also want to refer you to an ophthalmologist to obtain further treatment for your pink eye.
In most cases, though, the pink eye that causes your red eye is easily treated by keeping the eyes clean and dry. It is not uncommon for people to develop eye irritations that are caused by conjunctivitis or other eye problems that aren’t caused by an allergy or infection. These conditions do not need to be treated immediately with antibiotics, but if you are experiencing any red eye symptoms after using an antibiotic for a pink eye treatment, seek medical care right away.
When you first notice red eye symptoms following the use of an antibiotic for an infection, your eye doctor may prescribe you a topical cream to treat your symptoms. These creams can help dry out the area around your eye. However, these creams don’t provide a cure, and don’t actually get rid of the problem. So long as the eye remains swollen and red, it will eventually heal on its own. You’ll just have to wait until the eye heals completely before you stop applying the cream.
Your eye doctor may also recommend a prescription in a topical cream to treat your red eye if your pink eye does not respond well to the use of ointment alone. Although the cream will help relieve the symptoms, you should also be cautious to not use the cream more than twice per day. as too much of the ointment can irritate the eye.
It’s important that you use the cream properly to ensure it’s not a result of an allergy or an infection and that you continue to follow the prescribed pink eye treatment to prevent an infection from forming. For bacterial infections caused by bacteria, you should always keep your eyes clean and dry so you can continue to avoid irritation from the eye cream. And, while using the cream, you should avoid using perfumed products as this can increase the irritation and cause a further complication. Don’t forget to wash the cream off immediately after applying it.