Bacterial infections can affect the eyes, along with other body parts. With bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye), redness, tearing, and irritation are common symptoms. These symptoms can occur in one or both eyes, and the condition spreads easily from person to person.
While not typically associated with serious health problems, pink eye can be extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options at your disposal.
Treatment is not always necessary with bacterial conjunctivitis. When symptoms are tolerable, your doctor may recommend home remedies in lieu of formal treatment. In this case, the infection typically clears in five days or fewer, with a maximum healing period of about two weeks.
Some patients may require antibiotics, which can be administered via eye drops. You are more likely to be prescribed eye drops if:
If symptoms do not show visible improvement, be sure to tell your doctor. You might need a different antibiotic or adjusted dosage, depending on the infection.
There are steps you can take to enhance comfort while you wait for the bacterial infection to resolve:
You should tell your doctor about any home remedies you’re using to ensure they match your health needs.
Bacterial pink eye is highly contagious, but you can reduce your risk by doing the following:
While the outlook for bacterial conjunctivitis is often good, avoiding infection can spare you painful symptoms.