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Although the bacterial conjunctivitis, if mild, may resolve without treatment, it is best to have your practitioner evaluate the appropriate management. Severe bacterial conjunctivitis is characterized by thick pus-like discharge, pain, and marked inflammation of the eye. Your doctor will likely prescribe an ophthalmic antibiotic for treatment of this condition.Treatment depends on what is causing the pink eye / conjunctivitis and must be determined by a doctor.
Infectious conjunctivitis spreads very easily! To prevent spreading the infection to the good eye or to others, the infected eye should not be touched with the hands. It is important to wash hands thoroughly and frequently to prevent spreading.Make-up and handkerchiefs should not be shared with an infected person. Contact lenses and eye make-up should not be worn until the problem has been resolved.Used make-up must be thrown away if the patient has been diagnosed with infectious conjunctivitis.
Allergic conjunctivitis may respond to treatment for the underlying allergies, or it may disappear on its own when the allergen that caused it is removed. Cool compresses may be soothing for allergic conjunctivitis.
Antibiotic medication, usually eye drops, is effective for bacterial conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis will disappear on its own. Many doctors give a mild antibiotic eyedrop for pink eye to prevent bacterial conjunctivitis.
The treatment of conjunctivitis depends the symptoms of pink eye and what caused the condition. While some cases of conjunctivitis disappear without treatment, or are adequately healed with home-care methods, others tend to be more severe and may require more specific diagnosis and treatment. In all cases, soothing techniques such as a warm compress applied to the eye will help to reduce discomfort.Your ophthalmologist may prescribe an eyedrop or ointment to help control the swelling and pain and to help prevent spread of the infection and further damage to your eye.