Conjunctivitis Treatment: Remedies and Care Tips

Conjunctivitis treatment involves addressing inflammation of the conjunctiva, commonly known as pink eye, with medications or home remedies to relieve symptoms.
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Pink Eye Treatment | Eye Inflammation | Eye Care | Pink Eye Remedies | Conjunctivitis Care
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Conjunctivitis Treatment FAQ


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How do you treat conjunctivitis?

The treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the cause. For all types of conjunctivitis, it’s helpful to wash the eye gently several times a day with clean cotton wool soaked in warm tap water. Viral infections improve without other special treatment. Bacterial infections may require antibiotic eye drops or ointment.

Can antibiotics treat conjunctivitis?

A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to treat more serious forms of conjunctivitis. For example, conjunctivitis caused by herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus. Antibiotics will not improve viral conjunctivitis; these drugs are not effective against viruses.

How do you treat conjunctivitis in children?

Children with conjunctivitis must be kept home from school or day care until the discharge from their eyes has stopped. This will prevent the spread of infection to other children. The incidence of conjunctivitis decreases with age. Photophobia (you can’t tolerate looking into sunlight).

What does conjunctivitis mean?

Conjunctivitis means the white of the eye (the sclera) is pink due to inflammation of the clear covering over it (the conjunctivae). What are the causes of conjunctivitis? Conjunctivitis can be caused by an infection (either viral or bacterial) which is highly contagious, or by an allergic reaction which is not contagious.

Can conjunctivitis be cured at home?

Home treatment for conjunctivitis can help to relieve symptoms, but it can't cure it or shorten its duration. Most cases of pink eye simply have to run their courses. Many people find that using cool or cold compresses can calm burning and stinging eyes. Warm compresses can be a comfortable, safe way to clear the eyes of mucous discharge.

What can I do if I have allergic conjunctivitis?

Try eye drops. Nonprescription eye drops called artificial tears may relieve symptoms. Some eyedrops contain antihistamines or other medicines that can be helpful for people with allergic conjunctivitis. Stop wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them until your eyes feel better.

How do you treat allergic conjunctivitis in children?

Children with allergic conjunctivitis almost always rub their eyes a lot. If the symptoms are mild, gentle cleaning of the eyes with cotton balls soaked in warm water may help your child feel better. Clean in one direction only, outwards from the inside (nose side) of the eye.

Conjunctivitis Treatment References

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