Medication Options to Treat Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Overview

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation of the clear lining inside the eye lid and around the eyeball. The inflammation causes the tiny blood vessels in the lining to become swollen, making them more visible and causing the reddish or pink appearance of the whites of the eye.

Conjunctivitis has many causes, including:

• Infections: The infection can be from a virus or bacteria. Infection from a fungus is less common.
• Allergies, like hay fever.
• A foreign object in the eye.
• Contact lens irritation.
• Irritant splash into the eye, such as a chemical.
• Blocked tear duct. There are several types of medications used to treat Conjunctivitis. Here is a breakdown of each medication type and their effects:

Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause. In some cases such as irritant splashed into the eye or irritation from a foreign object or contact lenes, pink eye may be managed without medications or with over-the-counter remedies.

In other cases, a healthcare provider should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment, including:

• Newborns with pink eye symptoms. Newborns should be seen by a pediatrician immediately.
• People who have a weakened immune system should see a healthcare provider immediately.
• Symptoms that include:
  • Eye pain.
  • Light sensitivity.
  • Intense eye redness.
  • Thick discharge from the eyes.

Medication options for conjunctivitis include:

• Viral pink eye: Many cases will resolve on their own over 1-2 weeks. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medication that can be taken by mouth or applied to the eye. It is important to note that antibiotics do not help pink eye cause by viruses. It is also important to note that viral pink eye is very contagious (easy to spread from person to person) so good hygiene (hand washing, not touching the eyes) is an important part of treatment.
• Bacterial pink eye: Many cases will resolve on their own within a week. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, usually as a drop or ointment to put in the eye. It is important to note that bacterial pink eye is very contagious (easy to spread from person to person) so good hygiene (hand washing, not touching the eyes) is an important part of treatment.
• Allergic pink eye: Allergy medications taken by mouth and antihistamine eye drops may help relieve pink eye symptoms. An important part of treatment is to avoid the allergen trigger if possible.

Other medications may be recommended based upon the cause of pink eye, severity of symptoms, and other individual factors.

Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.