How to Quickly Treat Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, medically referred to as conjunctival inflammation, is a condition that causes discomfort in the eyes due to either allergies or infection. While your body can often recover from conjunctivitis on its own, there are ways to accelerate the healing process depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Here is some helpful information that can guide you toward a faster recovery from conjunctivitis.

Identify the cause of your conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies. Typically, the condition results in red eyes, tearing, and itching, but the specific symptoms can vary depending on the cause.

• Viral conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes and often makes the eyes sensitive to light. This type is highly contagious and difficult to treat. It usually resolves on its own within one to three weeks. The best course of action is to avoid complications that may arise from it.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis leads to discharge from the eyes, often yellow or green, and is usually seen at the corner of the eyes. In severe cases, the discharge can cause the eyelids to stick together. The infection can affect one or both eyes and is easily spread. Medical attention is advised for treatment, though home remedies can alleviate symptoms. Antibiotics can help speed up recovery and shorten the duration of symptoms.
• Allergic conjunctivitis is often accompanied by other allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion and a runny nose, and both eyes are typically affected. This form is not contagious. It can generally be treated at home, but for severe symptoms, medical treatment may be necessary for a quicker recovery.

When to See a Doctor It’s not a bad idea to see a doctor if you have conjunctivitis, as they can offer helpful advice on how to manage your symptoms. You should seek medical attention if your conjunctivitis is accompanied by other serious symptoms.

• See a doctor if you experience moderate or severe eye pain or if your vision decreases and these symptoms don't improve after cleaning the eye discharge.
• If your eye turns dark or becomes intensely red, seek medical help as soon as possible.
• Go to the doctor immediately if you suspect you may have a serious viral conjunctivitis, such as one caused by the herpes simplex virus, or if you have a weakened immune system due to HIV or cancer treatment.
• See a doctor if your bacterial conjunctivitis doesn't improve with antibiotics after 24 hours.

Use Allergy Medication. If you have mild allergic conjunctivitis, over-the-counter allergy medication can help relieve your symptoms within hours to a few days. If symptoms don’t improve quickly, you might be dealing with a bacterial or viral infection.

• Take antihistamines. Your body responds to allergens by producing a chemical called histamine, which causes the discomfort of red eyes and other allergy symptoms. Antihistamines reduce or block the histamine your body produces, thus helping to prevent red eye symptoms.
• Use decongestants. While decongestants won’t combat the allergens themselves, they can help manage the inflammation in the eye tissues.

Regularly Clean the Infected Eye Area. Whenever your eye starts to discharge, be sure to clean it to prevent bacteria from worsening the condition.

• Start cleaning from the inner corner of the eye, near the nose, and gently wipe toward the outer corner of the eye. This will safely remove discharge from the tear ducts and eyes.
• Wash your hands before and after wiping your eyes.
• Use a clean tissue to wipe your eye to prevent the discharge from re-entering the eye.
• Immediately discard the used tissue or wipe, and place the used washcloth into the laundry basket right after use.

Use Over-the-Counter Eye Drops. Artificial tears can help soothe your symptoms and rinse your eyes.

• Most regular eye drops are gentle lubricating solutions made from saline that replace natural tears. They can reduce the dryness caused by conjunctivitis and also help wash away debris that could prolong viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.
• Some over-the-counter eye drops also contain antihistamines, which are very effective for treating allergic conjunctivitis.

Cold or Warm Compress. Soak a clean, soft cloth in water, making sure it is free from dirt. Wring out excess water, close your eyes, and gently apply the cloth to your eyes.

• A cold compress is great for treating allergic conjunctivitis, while a warm compress provides more comfort and helps reduce swelling when dealing with viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
• Remember, warm compresses can increase the risk of spreading the infection to the other eye, so change the cloth after each use and use different cloths for each eye.

Remove Contact Lenses. If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to remove them when you have conjunctivitis. Lenses can irritate the eyes, worsening complications, and may trap bacteria that cause conjunctivitis.

• Dispose of any single-use contact lenses if you are infected with bacterial or viral conjunctivitis.
• Thoroughly clean any reusable lenses before reusing them.

Prevent the Spread of Infection. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious, and even after recovery, you can become reinfected if the illness spreads to others in your household.

• Avoid touching your eyes. If you accidentally touch your eyes or face, wash your hands immediately. Also, wash your hands after applying eye medications.
• Change your towel every day. Throughout the infection, make sure to replace pillowcases daily.
• Do not share items that have come in contact with your eyes. This includes eye drops, towels, bed linens, eye makeup, contact lenses, contact lens solution or containers, and handkerchiefs.
• Refrain from using eye makeup until you’ve fully recovered, as it could cause reinfection. Discard any makeup used during your conjunctivitis episode.
• Consider taking a few days off from work or school. Most viral conjunctivitis patients can return after 3-5 days once symptoms improve. Bacterial conjunctivitis sufferers can return after symptoms clear or 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Use Prescription Eye Drops. While regular over-the-counter eye drops can help treat conjunctivitis, prescription eye drops are stronger and can speed up recovery.

• Treat bacterial conjunctivitis with eye drops containing antibiotics. Antibiotic eye drops directly target the bacteria causing the infection. They help eliminate the infection within a few days, but you will notice improvement after the first 24 hours. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully when using these medications.
• Treat allergic conjunctivitis with antihistamine or steroid eye drops. While you can find some antihistamine drops over-the-counter, stronger ones are available only with a prescription. Severe allergic conditions may also require steroid-based eye drops for treatment.

Use Antibiotic Ointment. Antibiotic eye ointments are easier to apply than eye drops, especially for children.

• Keep in mind that the ointment will blur your vision for up to 20 minutes after application, but your sight will return to normal shortly afterward.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis will be completely cured within a few days when you use this treatment method.

Learn About Antiviral Medications. If your doctor suspects that your viral conjunctivitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus, they may prescribe antiviral medications.

• Antiviral drugs may also be an option if you have previously experienced health conditions that weakened your immune system.

• After starting antibiotic treatment, stay indoors for at least 24 hours. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and it's essential to reduce the risk of spreading it.
• If you have conjunctivitis, avoid rubbing your eyes as this will cause swelling, peeling skin, and possibly dark circles under your eyes as a consequence.

• Over-the-counter allergy medications
• Regular eye drops
• Soft towels, tissues, or disposable eye wipes
• Prescription eye drops
• Prescription eye ointment
• Antiviral medications