Pink eye treatment

Question 1

Is pink eye infectious?

Answer

Pink eye can be infectious or noninfectious. If you have bacterial or viral pink eye, your infection can spread to someone else. If you have allergic pink eye, you can't infect someone else.

To help prevent a viral or bacterial pink eye infection from spreading, wash your hands often and don't share tissues, towels, pillowcases, or any other personal items.

Question 2

How do I know what kind of pink eye I have?

Answer

Your eye symptoms can help determine what kind of conjunctivitis you have:

• Allergic conjunctivitis: Redness, itchiness, and watery discharge in both eyes

• Bacterial conjunctivitis: Redness and thick discharge, usually in one eye

• Viral conjunctivitis: Redness, a gritty or sandy sensation, and watery discharge in one eye, usually followed by the other eye within 2 days. Viral pink eye is often preceded by mild cold or flu symptoms from a common adenovirus. Most adult cases of conjunctivitis are viral.

It's important for a provider to know what's causing your pink eye so they can prescribe the right conjunctivitis treatment and help relieve your eye symptoms.

Question 3

What other conditions can cause pink or red eyes?

Answer

Though conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) is the most common cause of eye redness and discharge, multiple conditions can cause red or pink eyes, including the following:

• Blepharitis: When your eyelids are irritated and inflamed*

• Contact lens overwear: Which can cause dryness or abrasions

• Corneal abrasion: When the surface of the cornea experiences a trauma like a scratch

• Stye (hordeolum): When you have a painful lump on the eyelid*

• Subconjunctival hemorrhage: When a strain like a violent sneeze causes broken blood vessels in the eye

If you sense a foreign body in your eye, can't keep your eye open, have had recent eye trauma, experience vision changes, develop light sensitivity, or have severe eye pain, telehealth isn't the most appropriate option for you. You'll need to see a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation as soon as possible.

*Can be treated from Amazon One Medical's Urgent virtual care page

Question 4

How can I tell if my child has pink eye?

Answer

If your child has bacterial pink eye, they may experience eye redness as well as yellow or green eye discharge in both eyes. This thick discharge may cause your child's eyelids to stick together while they're sleeping. Bacterial conjunctivitis is typically treated with antibiotic eye drops.

If your child has viral pink eye, they may experience common cold symptoms like a fever or sore throat around the same time as the eye redness. Their eye discharge will typically be watery. Children may find relief from viral pink eye symptoms like a burning sensation with cool compresses and artificial tears.

If your child has allergic pink eye, they may experience eye symptoms similar to viral pink eye, but one or both eyes will typically be itchy as well. Children may find relief from their symptoms with an eye lubricant or antihistamines.

Question 5

When can my child return to school or daycare after having pink eye?

Answer

Because pink eye is highly contagious, healthcare providers typically recommend that children stay home from school or daycare for 24 hours after they've been treated.

Washing hands frequently, avoiding touching the eyes, and avoiding sharing linens and towels can also help prevent spread of infection.

Question 6

Do kids' eye infections go away on their own?

Answer

Childhood eye infections typically go away on their own within about a week. If your child has viral conjunctivitis, they may still experience lingering symptoms like morning crusting for 2 weeks.

Question 7

When should I take my child to the doctor for an eye infection?

Answer

If your child has had pink eye symptoms for longer than a week, they should be seen by a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation. They should also be seen in person if they're still experiencing symptoms after 3 days of treatment with antibiotic eye drops, or if they have recurrent eye infections.

If your child is experiencing any of the following, please go to the nearest emergency room (ER) or urgent care clinic. These symptoms indicate that your child should be seen by an in-person healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• They recently injured their eye

• They could have something stuck in their eye

• They can't open their eye due to swelling or pain

• Their eye was exposed to a chemical or harmful household product

• They're experiencing severe eye pain or significant pain with eye movement

• Their appetite or behavior has recently changed significantly

• Their eye is actively bleeding or blood is pooled in their eye

• They're experiencing vision changes

• They have a fever of 102°F or higher

• They have a headache

• They have a gray/white spot or sore on the lens of their eye (cornea)

Question 8

Do I have to be the parent or guardian of the child seeking care?

Answer

Yes. A parent or legal guardian must initiate the child's care and be present during their treatment.

Question 9

What type of healthcare provider will treat my child?

Answer

Children are treated by family practice physicians or licensed family nurse practitioners (FNPs). You'll be able to see the credentials of your child's provider after they're assigned to your child's treatment.

Question 10

Can I get a doctor's note for my child?

Answer

Yes. After your child completes their treatment, their One Medical provider can write excused absence notes, back-to-school notes, and no-play notes for sports or other activities if medically appropriate.

Question 11

What kind of online treatments can I request for my child?

Answer

At this time, parents and legal guardians can request treatments for their children aged 2 through 11 years old for the following health conditions through Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care (formerly Pay-per-visit):

• Head lice

• Pink eye

• Skin issue

• Eczema

• EpiPen prescription renewals

• Asthma prescription renewals

Question 12

Clinical sources

Answer

1. Azari, A. A., & Barney, N. P. (2013). Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. JAMA, 310(16), 1721–1729.

2. Johnson, D., Liu, D., & Simel, D. (2022). Does This Patient With Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis Have a Bacterial Infection?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review. JAMA, 327(22), 2231–2237.

3. Mahoney MJ, Bekibele R, Notermann SL, Reuter TG, Borman-Shoap EC. Pediatric Conjunctivitis: A Review of Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management. Children (Basel). 2023 Apr 29;10(5):808.

4. Sebastian T, Frost HM. A qualitative evaluation of pediatric conjunctivitis medical decision making and opportunities to improve care. J AAPOS. 2022 Jun;26(3):113.e1-113.e6.

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Pink eye treatment

How it works

Common pink eye (conjunctivitis) medications

Allergy eye drops

Antibiotic eye drops or ointments

Drops for dry eyes

Can I get pink eye treatment for my child through On-Demand Care?

What is pink eye?

What are pink eye symptoms?

Frequently asked questions

About pink eye treatment

About pink eye care for children