How do I cure pink eye? Do I HAVE to see a doctor?

Question

Is there an over the counter drop or something for it?

Answer 1

A heavy volume money in the shot in the eye will clear it up within 24-48 hours. If you can't find a "friend" to help you out your doctor will refer you to a specialist or you may look in the yellow pages under Physicians-*******.

Answer 2

It depends on what type of conjunctivitis you have. There are many different kinds with EKC or Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (viral) being the most contageous. You can try to prevent the spreading by trying not to touch your eyes and vigorous handwashing if you do touch them. Sometimes it takes a week or more for a medication to be fully effective, however you should see an improvement within a few days depending on how severe the infection is. Your best bet is to see an Ophthalmologist who can diagnose the type of conjunctivitis you have and give you the appropriate medication for it. You did mention that you already went to an eye doctor, but you might want a second opinion. I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a miracle cure, but I don't know of any! Hope you get better soon!

Answer 3

Pink eye can go back and forth between each eye....
You SHOULD see a doctor...antibiotic eye drops really are the only thing that cures this condition..
However, there are some things that YOU can do that will help..
First of all, WASH YOUR HANDS AND DO IT OFTEN...keep your hands, and fingers out of your eyes...I know that sometimes the itch is unbearable and the need to scratch is horrible but try to refrain from doing this.
Make sure that you clean all surfaces that you touch often...like doorknobs, kitchen cabinet handles, toilet handle, things like that...
If you use a washcloth on your face, use it once, then throw it in the dirty laundry and use a clean one...
You might wanna try to soak your eye or eyes with warm salt water....using a different washcloth and a different bowl of warm salt water for each eye...do this so that you don't spread the pink eye from eye to eye...
If all of this does not work, then I would suggest that you definetely see a doctor....and keep in mind that it wouldn't be a bad idea to see one anyway and get the antibiotic eye drops.

Answer 4

No there is nothing over the counter for pink eye. It needs antibiotic eye drops as it is a strong little bugger of an infection. See your doctor right away and it will clear up quickly. Don't forget to take the whole course of antibiotics. It will appear better after only a day or two but you still need to finish the course of antibiotics.

Answer 5

Question #1: It depends on the causative organism. If it's allergic conjunctivitis, certain antihistamine preparations will help and sometimes steroids are necessary. If it's viral, it's self-limited. If it's bacterial, you cannot cure it yourself.

Question #2: See Question #1.

Question #3: See Question #1.

Conjunctivitis can be blepharoconjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivits and can actually be episcleritis which isn't conjunctivitis at all but appears similar and can be misdiagnosed, especially by the layperson (that's you).

If you believe you have conjunctivitis, get yourself diagnosed for the specific type.

FYI: In the other answers, I see a lot of mention of antibiotics for conjunctivitis. These work ONLY for bacterial conjunctivitis and conjunctivitis with a bacterial component. There is more than one kind. Get it diagnosed.

Answer 6

Your best bet is to see a doctor to make sure that your eyes aren't as infected with anything other than pink eye.

-make sure when you are cleaning your eyes or touching anything that other people are using you are thoroughly cleaning your hands on a constant basis. As pink eye can be spread if you rub your eyes without washing and then you touch something that can be passed on to another.

I got my pink eye one time from touching a hand rail at a hospital (I was just leaving the bathroom actually, I washed my hands and rubbed my eye next day I had pink eye and it was torture)

I was recommended "Visine for Pinkeye" and I put that in my eyes and it made my eyes pus up with a green film over just one of my eyes- sealing it shut. It however worked for my left eye which was strange.

I had to go back to the hospital to have the green film removed from my right eye and put on stronger antibiotics.
(I now found out I had an allergic reaction to the Visine eye drops for pink eye medication). Be careful about OTC (over the counter) medication. I was told the Visine for pink eye would solve my problem from a pharmacist, but remember pharmacist can recommend you things but they don't know your entire medical history. Trust the doctor or trust your local hospital.

If you have pink eye on a weekend: Go to the hospital and not a walk-in clinic (some walk-in's don't treat it properly).

-Wash anything you touch (hands, dishes, clothes etc)

Most of all keep any washcloths that you used on your eyes away from other members of your family- highly recommended!!

DO NOT WEAR EYE MAKE-UP, this will only irritate your eyes more!

Seek a Doctor or Hospital for the best treatment for your pink eye(s)

Note: I was also told by the doctor in the hospital: in the future if I ever encountered "junk in my eyes" to use "Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo".
Put a little dime size on a damp wash cloth and wipe the "junk away" from your eyes.
Baby Shampoo by Johnson and Johnson -the yellow one. Is great for babies and adults because if it gets in your eyes it will NOT irritate your eyes. (I use it all the time). It is STING-FREE, because you can use it on babies.

I'm not a doctor, but I know this works. I was given prescribed medication from the doctor in the hospital and was told when in doubt without having the medication use the "Johnson and Johnson Baby shampoo to clean the eyes until I can follow up with my family doctor.

Note: Wash your hands as much as possible after you touch something.
If turning off taps at a bathroom at home or out somewhere use a paper towel to prevent the spread of germs.

Use antibacterial gel (many hospitals and pharmacy's and now even your local gym club or mall has started to have them everywhere) Keep clean, Keep smart.

Hope that helps!!

Answer 7

No.. you have to see a doctor. Pink Eye is very contageous.. It was recently going around my grandson's daycare. It will be on the go with a prescription from your doctor.. There is nothing over the counter.

Answer 8

You can go to your local pharmacy and see if they have an OTC drop, but I doubt it. I do believe that you have to see the doctor and get an antibiotic drop. Whatever you do, do it quickly and try not to rub your eyes. Also, make sure that you wash your hands frequently, pink eye is VERY contagious.

Answer 9

there are holistic/ homeiopathic over the counter remedies, but they don't really work that well. It is best to go and see a doctor, or go to a minute clinic if they have them near you if you are without much time.

Answer 10

The pharmacist at the local chemist shop will suggest some suitable drops or eve ointment