How can pink eye go away

If you have pink eye in only one eye, your goal is to treat the affected eye without infecting the other eye. If your other eye gets infected, that will extend the length of the illness. Keep anything you use on the affected eye away from the other eye. Also, wash your hands as much as possible, especially after you touch your eye. These steps can help minimize irritation so your body can keep fighting whatever is causing your pink eye.

Pink eye is highly contagious. Newborns can get pink eye, usually anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks after birth. Sometimes, this is due to an outside cause like infection or a blocked tear duct. Other times, a mom may have accidentally exposed her baby to bacteria or viruses when the baby passed through her birth canal. Examples include chlamydia, genital herpes , or gonorrhea. A doctor can examine the eye and recommend treatments, such as:.

If a newborn has an eye infection due to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, they may need intravenous IV antibiotics.

This type of infection can be serious and lead to permanent eye damage if left untreated. Most of them will only irritate your eyes and potentially make pink eye worse.

Here are some things to avoid:. You could save yourself from some potential eye damage and discomfort. Not everything that looks like pink eye is pink eye. Plus, sometimes you can have a really bad case that requires medical attention. See your doctor if you have the following symptoms:. Pink eye will usually go away on its own in about 1 to 2 weeks. If you have a bacterial infection and start using eye drops right away, you may be able to cut a few days off your recovery time.

Ask your doctor if you're not sure which product to use. You may also reduce the severity of your allergic conjunctivitis symptoms by avoiding whatever causes your allergies when possible. Start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner if you have any eye-related signs or symptoms that worry you. If your signs and symptoms persist or get worse, despite treatment, your doctor may refer you to an eye specialist ophthalmologist.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For pink eye, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:.

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask additional questions. Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow time later to cover points you want to address.

Your doctor may ask:. Stop using contact lenses until you can see your doctor. Wash your hands frequently to lessen the chance of infecting other people. Don't share towels with other people for the same reason. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Diagnosis In most cases, your doctor can diagnose pink eye by asking questions about your symptoms and recent health history. More Information Pink eye treatment: What if I wear contact lenses? Pink eye: How long is it contagious?

These symptoms should improve within 3 to 7 days. A virus that causes viral pink eye can spread from your nose to your eyes, or you can catch it when someone sneezes or coughs and the droplets come in contact with your eyes.

Bacteria cause bacterial pink eye. Usually the bacteria spreads to your eyes from your respiratory system or skin. You can also catch bacterial pink eye if you:. Both types of pink eye often start during an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold virus or sore throat virus or bacteria. Most cases of bacterial and viral pink eye will get better without treatment in a few days to two weeks. To relieve symptoms in the meantime:. Severe pink eye can cause swelling in the cornea — the clear layer in the front of your eye.

Treatment can prevent this complication. Most of the time pink eye is mild and will improve on its own, with or without treatment. More serious cases may need treatment with antibiotics or antiviral medicines. Practicing good hand-washing hygiene and not sharing personal items can prevent the spread of pink eye. Pink eye is a common eye infection, especially in children.

Learn more about the best remedies for pink eye, and when to see a doctor. Allergic conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation caused by an allergic reaction to substances like pollen. Your eyes may become red, itchy, and watery. Pink eye is a contagious eye infection.