Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)

Prevention

It is possible to prevent infectious conjunctivitis. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes. At home, never share towels, washcloths or facial cosmetics with others, especially eye makeup.

To prevent conjunctivitis in newborn babies, all pregnant women should be tested and, if necessary, treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. As another preventive measure, newborns routinely are treated at birth with antibiotic eye drops.

Treatment

For uncomplicated viral conjunctivitis, your doctor may suggest nonprescription eye drops, which relieve eye symptoms while your body fights off the viral infection.

For bacterial conjunctivitis, you'll need prescription ointment or eye drops containing antibiotics (sulfacetamide, erythromycin or others). Use these for as many days as your doctor tells you, even if your symptoms clear up within a day or two. You also can apply warm compresses, such a washcloth, to your eyes for 20- to 30-minute periods, several times a day. Gently wipe away eye discharge and dry, crusty material with a clean, moist cotton ball or tissue.

For allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamine eye drops and cool compresses can help to relieve itching.

Newborns who develop gonorrheal or chlamydial conjunctivitis are treated with antibiotics that can be put on the eye, taken by mouth or injected into a vein, depending on the severity. Their mothers should be examined and treated for gonorrhea or chlamydia infections.