Pink eye treatments usually start at home. If the cause of pink eye is a virus, then it is vital to limit contact with others as the infection is very contagious.
Pink eye home treatment begins by washing hands every time the eye is touched.
All personal care products including towels and linen should be separated. The pillow cases should be changed and washed daily.
The eye should be wiped with clean tissues and not the back of the hand or fingers.
One should avoid wearing both make-up and contact lenses during the infection.
Another aspect of pink eye home treatment includes use of a warm compress. One can take a moist warm washcloth and apply it on the eyes several times a day for a few minutes. The warmth will relieve symptoms and also help wash off the crusts from the eye lashes.
If the eye feels dry, one can buy over the counter artificial tears to help relieve itching and irritation. These eye drops should be discarded after the infection has subsided.
Never use an eye patch to cover the eye as this will worsen the infection and hide the signs.
Never use over the counter pink eye treatment drops for more than a few days without first getting your eye checked by an eye doctor. Many over the counter pink eye treatment products contain synthetic chemicals that may worsen the symptoms of a pink eye.
Medical treatment
If the home made treatment for pink eye have not resolved the symptoms and you have presence of a yellowish eye discharge or worsening eye, go and see an eye doctor. The eye doctor can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe you the proper treatment which will help relieve the pain, redness or itching. The eye is always examined to make sure that your vision has not been damaged.
The typical prescription treatment for pink eye includes antibiotics, eye drops or ointments as well as anti allergic medications. In most cases, the prescription eye drops help relieve the symptoms in a few days. If the pink eye is from a virus, there is no definitive dug treatment and good personal hygiene will resolve the infection in a few days. Because the virus induced pick eye can easily spread to others, it is best to avoid touching or holding children or infants.
All individuals whose pink eye was treated medially by an eye doctor, should follow up with a doctor to ensure that the eye has improved. In many schools children with pink eye are not allowed to attend until they have a clearance from the physician. Health care workers should not see patients until the pink eye treatments have completely eliminated the infection.