THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT TREATMENT

Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on the type of pink eye you have. Drugs are not always the best answer, so make sure to talk to your health care provider about prescription drug alternatives.

• Viral conjunctivitis – Studies have proven that antibiotics have no positive effect on the viral form of pink eye. The infection will not get better with antibiotics and you will remain contagious if your infection is caused by a virus and you treat it with antibiotics.

Instead, you should focus your treatment on personal hygiene habits. Here is a list of some of the things you can do for relief and to prevent the spread of infection to family members and others. You should remain away from work or school until you have no symptoms (no pink color in the eye, no tearing).

• Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions.
• Apply cool compresses to the infected eye 3-4 times a day for 10-15 minutes. Use a clean washcloth each time.
• Wash your hands frequently and try to keep your hands away from the eye area.
• Use artificial tears, as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. You'll get more relief if you refrigerate the drops before using them.
• Use over-the-counter antihistamine drops, as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
• Wear sunglasses if your eyes are light-sensitive.
• Use a clean pillowcase each night and don't share towels or linens.
• Don't wear contact lenses while using medications or feeling discomfort, especially if the eyes remain red.
• Throw away contact lenses that have been worn while infected.

• Bacterial conjunctivitis – The most common treatment for bacteria-based pink eye caused by a bacteria is an antibiotic eye drop or ointment. Generally, within 24-48 hours after starting this treatment, you can return to work or school with little risk of spreading the infection to others.
• Allergic conjunctivitis – There are allergy-specific eye drops to help you recover from the effects of allergic pink eye. Some of these are available over-the-counter and some require a doctor's prescription.