Most cases of viral pink eye are mild. It usually clears up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up.
Though they aren't common, conjunctivitis complications can sometimes cause permanent eye damage and even blindness if they go too long without treatment. Complications like this include: Trachoma.
Most cases of pink eye will go away on their own. You don't always need to see a doctor if you have pink eye. To help your eyes feel less dry, you can use a type of over-the-counter eye drops called artificial tears. You can also use a cold compress (like a cool washcloth) to help with swelling and redness.
A mild bacterial pink eye infection usually lasts about a week. Without treatment, it can take two weeks to go away completely. With treatment, it should start to improve after 3–4 days of starting antibiotics. A person must take the whole course of antibiotics, or it may recur.
In most cases, you won't need antibiotic eye drops. Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won't help. They may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medicine reaction. Instead, the virus needs time to run its course.
It can be hard to tell whether the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. In general, the discharge associated with viral conjunctivitis is watery, whereas it will be thicker and more pus-like when the infection is caused by bacteria.
Mild pink eye may resolve by itself, but severe cases may require urgent care as soon as possible. If you have conjunctivitis with the following symptoms and these get worse or don't improve, seek urgent care: Moderate to severe pain in the eye(s) Intense redness.
The viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye can quickly spread from person to person. Pink eye caused by viruses can be contagious for up to 2 to 3 weeks. Pink eye caused by bacteria is contagious for about a week.
There are eye conditions with similar symptoms to pink eye. It's common to mistake allergies, styes, iritis, keratitis, and blepharitis for it. They can have different causes and require different treatments. Protect your eye health by setting up an exam with our team.
Use erythromycin eye ointment as directed by your provider. Don't stop using it before you complete treatment, even if you feel better. If you stop using erythromycin eye ointment too soon, your infection might come back or become harder to treat.
Patient counseling. Advise patients to remain home if they have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis with systemic signs of illness, especially if they cannot avoid close contact with others. Patients may return to work or school after any indicated therapy is implemented.
Your child's physician may prescribe the following medications to help with the symptoms: Antihistamines -- these help to decrease histamine release which may help to decrease the itchy, watery eyes. Some examples are diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax).
Throw away and replace any eye or face makeup you used while infected. Replace contact lens solutions that you used while your eyes were infected. Throw away disposable contact lenses and cases that were used while your eyes were infected. Clean extended wear lenses as directed.
OTC antihistamine, decongestant and vasoconstrictor eye drops can reduce the redness and irritation of viral pink eye. All three work to shrink the size of the blood vessels along the surface of the eye. Antihistamines block histamines, part of your body's immune response to an infection or allergy.
Viral pinkeye is like a common cold in the eye. There is no treatment for the virus and usually you just have to let it heal on its own. Viral pink eye should go away within a week or two without treatment. Stay away from school, work, or the gym until you have fully recovered from viral pinkeye.
Managing symptoms at home
Use cold compresses and artificial tears to help relieve some of the inflammation and dryness caused by pink eye. You can purchase these over the counter without a prescription. Stop wearing contact lenses until your eye doctor says it's okay to start wearing them again.
Conjunctivitis resulting from irritation
Symptoms, which may include watery eyes and a mucous discharge, usually clear up on their own within about a day. If flushing doesn't resolve the symptoms, or if the chemical is a caustic one such as lye, see your healthcare professional or eye specialist as soon as possible.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis normally causes a yellow or green sticky discharge throughout the day. They will feel itchy, and the eyelids may become swollen. Viral Conjunctivitis normally causes a watery discharge during the day and present with sticky discharge in the morning. The eyelids may become very swollen.
Most cases of pink eye get better on their own within a week or two, especially if it's caused by a virus. But if it's caused by bacteria, you might need to see a doctor for treatment. They can give you special eye drops or ointment to help clear up the infection faster.
You usually don't need antibiotic drops or ointments to treat pink eye. They don't help alleviate the symptoms or make you less contagious. It's difficult to distinguish between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, but both typically are self-limiting, meaning the illness will go away on its own.
“Germ-caused conjunctivitis intensifies when your eyes are closed. That's why it tends to get worse at night when you're asleep,” says Petersen. “To combat that, put any prescribed antibiotic ointment in your eyes before you go to bed. That way it will prevent crusting.”
The discharge from pink eye, which refers to bacterial conjunctivitis, contains pus. As it dries, this pus may leave crust around the eye. Eye irritation from allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis, is less likely to cause this symptom. The eyes may feel itchy and have watery discharge instead.