What Antibiotic For Pink Eye

When To See A Doctor About Conjunctivitis

Its important to see a doctor if you have symptoms that last longer than two days, or if your eye is swollen and painful. If you have a bacterial infection in your eye, it can sometimes be treated with antibiotic drops. More severe cases might require oral antibiotics or even hospitalization. Since conjunctivitis can be caused by allergies, environmental irritants, or other infections such as trachoma or diphtheria, see a doctor if youre unsure of whats causing your symptoms. Left untreated, conjunctivitis can lead to more serious complications like permanent vision loss. An ophthalmologist is an optometrist who specializes in conditions of the eyes and vision disorders such as conjunctivitis.

Donât Miss: Does Strep Throat Need Antibiotics

Alternative Remedies For Pink Eye

There are some homeopathic eye drops, such as Similasan Allergy Eye Relief, available online and in some pharmacies. Some small studies have shown these to be effective. However, these were not controlled, scientific studies validating the results according to Healio.com. It is essential to speak with your doctor before trying any homeopathic treatments.

Treatment Of Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is very contagious, and standard infection control measures should be followed.

To avoid transmitting infection, physicians must

• Use hand sanitizer or wash their hands properly

• Disinfect equipment after examining patients

Patients should do the following:

• Use hand sanitizer and/or wash their hands thoroughly after touching their eyes or nasal secretions

• Avoid touching the noninfected eye after touching the infected eye

• Avoid sharing towels or pillows

• Avoid swimming in pools

nor chlamydial Chlamydial, Mycoplasmal, and Ureaplasmal Mucosal Infections Sexually transmitted urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, and pharyngitis not due to gonorrhea are caused predominantly by chlamydiae and infrequently by mycoplasmas or Ureaplasma sp. Chlamydiae⦠read more infection is suspected, most clinicians treat presumptively with moxifloxacin 0.5% drops 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days or another fluoroquinolone or trimethoprim/polymyxin B 4 times a day. A poor clinical response after 2 or 3 days indicates that the cause is resistant bacteria, a virus, or an allergy. Culture and sensitivity studies should then be done results direct subsequent treatment.

Recommended Reading: Strep Throat Antibiotics Not Working

Is Pink Eye Contagious

Pink eye that happens due to bacteria or viruses is highly contagious . This is because you can spread pink eye before you know you have it. We also all touch our faces and eyes much more than we think.

Pink eye caused by allergies isnt contagious.

How long am I contagious with pink eye?

If you get pink eye from bacteria, youre contagious while you have symptoms or until about 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

If you get pink eye from a virus, youre contagious for as long as you have symptoms . You can also spread pink eye before you notice any symptoms.

Table 4 Topical Antibiotic Dosing1

Medication One drop in affected eye two to three times a day for seven days. Tobramycin Mild/moderate infection: One to two drops in the affected eye every four hours for seven to 10 days.Severe infection: Two drops in the affected eye hourly until improvement, then one to two drops every four hours for seven to 10 days.

Discontinue therapy immediately and avoid the use of fluoroquinolones in patients who experience any of these serious adverse reactions. Because fluoroquinolones have been associated with serious adverse reactions, reserve fluoroquinolones for use in patients who have no alternative.35-40

Miscellaneous topical antimicrobials. Commonly used topical antibiotics include Polytrim , fluoroquinolones such as ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin or Vigamox , and tobramycin. While this does not represent a complete list of available agents, it does highlight reasonable choices for the topical treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis, since they are applied directly to the infected organ.1-4 These agents are typically considered safe for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In general, adverse effects are minimal and may include eye redness, eye irritation and allergy.

Keeping all of these things in mind will help to ensure that the patient is cured and that few to no resistant bacteria have been let loose in the world. Both of these are important factors for a successful treatment plan.

Recommended Reading: Can Any Antibiotics Cure Uti

What Are The Different Types Of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is usually divided into at least two categoriesnewborn conjunctivitis and childhood conjunctivitiswith different causes and treatments for each.

• Pink or red discoloration of the whites of one or both eyes

• Discomfort when the child looks at a light

• Burning in the eyes

The symptoms of conjunctivitis may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your childs doctor for a diagnosis.

What Is The Best Pink Eye Medication

There are several treatments for conjunctivitis, but there is no “best” medication. What works for one person might not work for another. Everyone reacts differently to medicines. Your doctor will take your medical condition, medical history, and other medication you are taking into consideration when suggesting a treatment for you. When looking at standard dosing, it is important to keep in mind that interval frequency and duration of treatment may vary based on the severity of each patients case.

Dosage is determined by your doctor based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.

Also Check: Clearing Up A Uti Without Antibiotics

How Long Will It Take For My Pink Eye To Heal

The type of pink eye you have will affect how long it takes to heal.

Viral pink eye, the most common type, usually gets better in 1 to 2 weeks without medicine. Sometimes, it can take 3 weeks or more to heal. Remember, antibiotics dont help viral pink eye.

Bacterial pink eye usually gets better in 2 to 5 days, but it can take 2 weeks or more to go away completely. Antibiotics can speed up the healing time, but they arent always needed. If you have bacterial pink eye, ask your doctor if they recommend antibiotics for you.

If you have pink eye caused by an allergen or irritant, try to avoid the allergen or irritant. Allergy medicine and some eye drops may also help.

How Can I Prevent Pink Eye

Avoiding pink eye can be tricky, as it is highly contagious. People should try to avoid close contact with anyone who has pink eye until their symptoms have cleared.

Everyone can take precautions, such as:

• not touching or rub eyes
• washing hands well, especially before inserting or removing contacts
• not sharing personal items
• keeping contacts and glasses thoroughly clean
• washing clothes, towels, and pillowcases regularly
• staying at home when infected

Read Also: Probiotics For Elderly On Antibiotics

Can Pink Eye Come Back

Pink eye can come back, especially if you have allergy-related pink eye. Every time youre in contact with the allergen , your eyes may react.

If you have bacterial or viral pink eye, you can also accidentally reinfect yourself. To avoid coming down with another case of contagious pink eye:

• Wash your bed linens, pillowcases, towels and washcloths in hot water and detergent. Change them frequently.
• Avoid wearing eye makeup until the infection goes away. Throw out old eye makeup and any makeup used just before the start of the infection.
• Wear glasses instead of contact lenses. Clean your glasses often.
• Throw away disposable contact lenses. Thoroughly clean extended wear lenses and all eyewear cases. Use only sterile contact solution. Wash your hands before inserting or removing lenses.
• If youve used eye drops for an infected eye, dont use the same eye drops in a non-infected eye.

Whats The Treatment For Pinkeye

The treatment depends on the cause.

Viruses. This type of pinkeye often results from the viruses that cause a common cold. Just as a cold must run its course, the same is true for this form of pinkeye, which usually lasts from 4 to 7 days. Remember, it can be very contagious, so do everything you can to prevent its spread. Antibiotics will not help anything caused by a virus. Pinkeye caused by the herpes virus can be very serious and may need prescription antiviral eye drops, ointment, or pills.

Bacteria. If bacteria, including those related to STDs, caused your pinkeye, youâll take antibiotics. You may need to apply eye drops or ointments to the inside of your eyelid three to four times a day for 5 to 7 days. For more stubborn infections or for rare cases of pinkeye caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia, you might get an oral antibiotic. You would take pills for several days. The infection should improve within a week. Take or use the medicines as instructed by your doctor, even after the symptoms go away.

Irritants. For pinkeye caused by an irritating substance, use water to wash the substance from the eye for 5 minutes. Your eyes should begin to improve within 4 hours. If your conjunctivitis was caused by acid or alkaline material such as bleach, immediately rinse the eyes with lots of water and call your doctor right away.

Your eye doctor may have you return in several days to make sure your pinkeye is improving with the medication prescribed.

Also Check: Where Can I Get Antibiotics For Gonorrhea

How Is Pinkeye Diagnosed

If you think your child has pinkeye, its important to see your health care provider to learn whats causing it and how to treat it. Other serious eye conditions can have similar symptoms, so a child who complains of severe pain, changes in eyesight, swelling around the eyes, or sensitivity to light should be examined.

If you cant get an in-person visit, you might be able to do a video visit instead. Telehealth when patients and health care providers use technology for the remote diagnosis and treatment of some health conditions is becoming more and more popular. Ask your health care provider if his or her practice participates in telemedicine, and check with your insurance provider to see if this option is covered.

When To Contact Your Eye Doctor

Contact an eye doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of an eye infection. Many eye infections can be treated quickly with medical care, but it is always best to obtain a proper diagnosis as early as possible.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Eye Conditions

The earlier an infection is treated, the sooner you will begin to feel better.

Seek emergency medical attention if symptoms are severe any eye pain or loss of vision requires immediate care.

Read Also: Antibiotics For Rash On Skin

When Should I Call The Doctor

If the pinkeye does not improve after 2 to 3 days of treatment, or after a week if untreated, call your doctor.

If your child has increased swelling, redness, and tenderness in the eyelids and around the eye, along with a fever, call your doctor. Those symptoms may mean the infection has started to spread beyond the conjunctiva and will need more treatment.

When Are They Necessary

Antibiotic eye drops are used to treat bacterial eye infections. Other types of medication are used to treat viral, fungal, and allergic infections.

Your doctor may prescribe you antibiotic eye drops if you have:

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis is very contagious. This is why infections like pink eye spread so quickly among young children in schools and daycare.

Contact Lens Infections

Its also important to kill bacteria causing a contact-lens infection. Sleeping in contact lenses is one of the most common causes of bacterial eye infections.

Styes

Styes cause inflammation at the edge of the eyelid. They are red and painful. Staphylococcus bacteria cause styes, which occur when bacteria build up in an oil gland near the base of an eyelash.

Chalazion

Chalazion, which are similar to styes, are cysts deep in the eyelid. Inflammation from blocked meibomian glands causes chalazion. This blockage can lead to staphylococcus bacteria entering the gland opening.

Antibiotic treatments only treat bacterial eye infections. They wont help with viral infections or fungal infections or if you have an allergic reaction. For eye problems in these categories, youll need antihistamines or antiviral medications.

Summary

Antibacterial eye drops treat eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis, contact lens infections, styes, and chalazion. They do not work against viruses, fungi, or allergic reactions.

Don’t Miss: Can A Psychiatrist Prescribe Antibiotics

When Should I See The Doctor

Talk to your doctor:

• If your baby has purulent eye discharge and is less than 3 months old.
• If you think your child has pinkeye. It is not easy to know if a bacteria or a virus has caused the infection. Your doctor will know if your child needs an antibiotic or other treatment.
• If your child seems unwell and has a fever, rash or eye pain, or if the pinkeye seems to keep coming back. Some more serious illnesses may look like pink eye at first.

When Is It Safe To Return To Work Or School

People should not return to work or school until their symptoms clear completely. A person should talk to their doctor about when it is safe for them to return to normal activities.

A rough guide to when it is safe to return to work or school is:

• Bacterial pink eye: After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
• Viral pink eye: After 2 days to about a week.
• Allergic pink eye: No need to stay home.

Don’t Miss: Antibiotic Cream For Bed Sores

When You Need Themand When You Dont

Pink eye is a common condition, especially in children. It is also called conjunctivitis. The eyes are pink because they are infected or irritated. They may be itchy and teary, with a watery discharge, and swollen, crusty eyelids.

Doctors often prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments for pink eye. But antibiotics dont usually help, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. They can do more harm than good. Heres why:

Antibiotics are not usually necessary for pink eye.Pink eye can be caused by a virus, an allergy, or bacteria.

Pink eye is usually caused by a virus. Viral pink eye usually goes away on its own in a week or so. Antibiotics do not kill viruses.

Pink eye can also be an allergic reaction to something like pollen, dust mites, pets, contact lenses, or cosmetics. This kind of pink eye gets better when you avoid the things that are causing the allergy. Antibiotics dont help allergies.

A third type of pink eye is caused by bacteria. This can be helped by an antibiotic. However, mild bacterial pink eye almost always goes away within ten days without medication.

Antibiotics can cause problems.Antibiotics can cause itching, stinging, burning, swelling and redness. They can cause more discharge. And they can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Who should use antibiotics for pink eye?You might need antibiotic eye drops and ointments for bacterial pink eye if:

Know the symptoms of different kinds of pink eye.

10/2013

Who Needs Antibiotics To Treat Pink Eye

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the signature symptom of bacterial pink eye is a greenish discharge that lasts all day.

If youve been experiencing this discharge in addition to symptoms of redness and itching, you may have bacterial pink eye. This type of pink eye is less common than viral pink eye, but its not rare.

Antibiotics can work to treat bacterial pink eye. But even when bacteria are causing your pink eye, it will most likely clear up on its own after a couple of days.

For this reason, doctors dont always prescribe antibiotics right away to treat bacterial pink eye.

Your doctor may recommend antibiotics if:

• you have a weakened immune system due to another health condition
• your symptoms are very severe
• your symptoms have persisted for a week or more

Some schools have a policy that requires children or employees with pink eye to be treated with antibiotics before they can return.

Antibiotics for pink eye typically come in the form of eye drops. These medications are by prescription only.

A of studies found that the choice of antibiotic often didnt matter. They all have similar effectiveness.

Below are a few types of antibiotics that your doctor may prescribe.

Also Check: Two Rounds Of Antibiotics For Uti

Other Pink Eye Treatments

In most cases, your natural defenses will work to clear your pink eye infection. However, you can also take other steps to help soothe your eyes and promote healing. Steps to consider include:

• Frequent handwashing and avoidance of touching your eyes
• Applying a wet washcloth to the closed lids to help rid you of the crustiness
• Using over-the-counter drops such as artificial tears to lubricate eyes, antihistamine medication to fight itch, and vasoconstricting drops that tighten blood vessels to combat redness in the short term
• Staying away from contact lens use while suffering from pink eye

Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution 03%

• View full drug information

A so-called fourth-generation fluoroquinolone ophthalmic indicated for bacterial conjunctivitis, gatifloxacin elicits a dual mechanism of action by possessing an 8-methoxy group, thereby inhibiting the enzymes DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. DNA gyrase is involved in bacterial DNA replication, transcription, and repair. Topoisomerase IV is essential in chromosomal DNA partitioning during bacterial cell division.

Gatifloxacin is indicated for bacterial conjunctivitis due to Corynebacterium propinquum, S aureus, S epidermidis, S mitis, S pneumoniae, or H influenzae.

You May Like: Antibiotic Eye Drops For Dogs Conjunctivitis

How Long Does Pink Eye Last

While the good news is that in most cases pink eye resolves on its own, you’re likely wondering how long this may take. If you have mild bacterial conjunctivitis, this will likely start to clear up without treatment within about two to five days. Still, it may take as long as two weeks for this to completely dissipate.

Meanwhile, if you have a mild case of viral conjunctivitis, this will take a week or two to go away in most cases. But for some this may take as much as two or even three weeks to resolve.

Antibiotics won’t do anything to help with viral conjunctivitis. But if you have a more serious virus such as herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus causing the virus, your healthcare provider can prescribe antiviral medication to help combat these.