health

Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause of the infection or irritation.
Allergic or seasonal conjunctivitis is usually relieved by applying
cool compresses to the eyes or by using artificial tears. This type of conjunctivitis
can also be treated with antihistamines, steroids, or other antiinflammatory
medications.
Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotic eye ointments or
drops. There are no specific treatments for viral conjunctivitis; the illness
must simply be allowed to go away on its own. Warm compresses or artificial
tears may help to ease the patient’s discomfort. Viral conjunctivitis
may get worse for the first three to five days of the infection and then gradually
get better; it can take as long as three to four weeks for viral conjunctivitis
to clear up completely.
Foreign bodies or chemicals in the eye are usually washed out with
saline solution. A chemical splash involving a caustic substance like lye
is a medical emergency and should be treated by an emergency room
physician or eye specialist as soon as possible.