Ask a doctor - Should a doctor always treat pink eye?

Q. Should a doctor always treat pink eye?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Yes, a doctor should always be consulted when someone presents with pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. Pink eye is an infection of the outermost layer of the whites of the eyes and inner eyelids that is typically caused by bacteria or a virus. While not dangerous if left untreated, signs and symptoms can deteriorate quickly making prompt medical treatment essential. If a person suspects they have pink eye, they should seek medical attention right away to prevent further complications such as scarring of the cornea or sight loss in extreme cases.

When visiting their doctor for suspected conjunctivitis, it’s important that patients bring along any relevant information from home – such as how long they’ve had redness or discomfort in their eyes – so that their physician can make an accurate diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatments. Depending on what has caused the pink eye (bacterial or viral), antibiotics may be prescribed to shorten its duration and help alleviate symptoms more quickly. Treatment may also involve instilling antibiotic eyedrops directly into each infected eye every four hours for at least seven days plus oral medications taken by mouth every 12 hours during symptomatic periods.

Other recommended treatments may include applying a cool compress over both closed eyes several times daily to reduce inflammation; avoiding contact lenses until all symptoms have completely disappeared; refraining from touching or rubbing eyes; maintaining good hygiene – especially while sick - by washing hands frequently throughout the day; using sterile wipes on contacts before re-inserting them into your eyes; disposing disposable eyewear after 24 hours of use; removing makeup at night with clean cloths/towel; discarding old cosmetics often and replacing them with fresh items regularly - including mascara which should be replaced after three months ; keeping hands away from your face whenever possible and never sharing towels, pillows & other personal items with others who are ill & lastly but most importantly scheduling yearly comprehensive dilated exams performed by optometrists or ophthalmologists to look for signs & monitor progression of potential vision related diseases like glaucoma, cataracts etcetera .