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Your Guide To The Best Eye Drops For Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Pink eye treatment varies depending on the type of conjunctivitis. Eye drops, ointments or oral medications can all be used depending on the cause.
Allergic ConjunctivitisAllergens like pollen, dust, pet dander and other environmental triggers can cause allergic conjunctivitis—a non-contagious form of pink eye that causes watery eyes, itching and burning. Your medical provider may prescribe one or a combination of medications to combat your symptoms.
The most common medications for allergic conjunctivitis include:
Home remedies for relief from allergic conjunctivitis include:
Infectious conjunctivitis refers to pink eye caused by a virus or bacteria—both can pass easily from person to person. However, treatment of infectious conjunctivitis doesn't always require medication.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment to kill the infection-causing bacteria. Antibiotic eye drops that may be prescribed include:
Antibiotic ointments that may be prescribed for bacterial conjunctivitis include:
Antibiotics, though, won't help viral pink eye because the infection is caused by a virus. "Pink eye often occurs in tandem with an upper respiratory infection and often will get better without any treatment once the respiratory condition improves," says Robert Gold, M.D., president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and senior partner of Eye Physicians of Central Florida in Orlando.
The infection has to run its course, but your doctor may suggest lubricating eye drops or ointment to soothe irritation and make you more comfortable. "Over-the-counter artificial tears can make the eyes feel more comfortable," explains Dr. Gold.
Antibiotic eye drops do not work to cure viral conjunctivitis. But "if there is evidence of a bacterial infection often associated with yellow or green discharge (drainage)," explains Dr. Gold, "antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed by your primary care doctor, ophthalmologist or optometrist."
The following home remedies may help relieve symptoms of viral or bacterial pink eye:
Chemical conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation due to exposure to a chemical irritant such as chlorine or smoke. Treatment for chemical conjunctivitis typically involves flushing the eyes and using lubricating eye drops to soothe the discomfort.
"Chemical injury to the ocular surface requires immediate attention by an eye doctor," says Saleha Munir, O.D., an optometrist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
According to Dr. Munir, those who present with chemical conjunctivitis should:
Antibiotic drops may be prescribed for chemical conjunctivitis when there's a risk for "super-infection," explains Dr. Munir, which is a secondary infection caused by bacteria.
What To Know About Bacteria And Eye Drops
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned people to stop using "artificial tear" eye drops sold by EzriCare or Delsam Pharma, noting that an "extensively" antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria has been found in multiple open containers of the drops. Officials investigating the outbreak have also seen signs of a spread beyond those who used the drops to others in the same health care center. The products have been subject to a nationwide recall.
Here's what doctors want people to know.
If I used those eye drops, what symptoms should I look for?
The C.D.C. Said eye infections may include yellow, green or clear discharge from the eye, pain or discomfort, redness, increased sensitivity to light and blurry vision. Patients who used the drops and developed other illnesses, like respiratory or urinary tract infections, should tell their doctor they used the drops, said Maroya Walters, lead investigator for the C.D.C.'s antimicrobial resistance team.
What's the best way to avoid infection from contaminated eye drops?
Eye drop bottles can become tainted by bacteria once opened, but there are easy ways to avoid contamination, according to Patricia Jackson, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. If possible, she said, always select eyedrops that contain preservatives, which inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Wash your hands before using drops, never use expired products and be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle to your eye or eyelashes, she said. Once a sealed bottle has been opened, it should be thrown away within a month. And never share eye drops with other people.
How else can it spread?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be spread through hands, water or medical instruments. But in health care settings, patients with intravenous ports, catheters or breathing tubes are most at risk because pathogens can more easily find their way directly into the body, by bypassing the protection afforded by the skin.
Should I be worried about other types of eye drops?
Dr. Vicente Diaz, an ophthalmologist and infectious disease specialist at Yale Health, said people should continue to use other types of eye drops as prescribed or other over-the-counter products from trusted brands.
I don't use eye drops. Am I still at risk for becoming infected?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous bacteria found in soil and water, and can colonize on human skin, but the bacteria pose little threat to most people, said Dr. David van Duin, director of the immunocompromised host infectious diseases section at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Those most at risk are hospitalized patients with weakened immune systems, recovering burn patients, people with cystic fibrosis and anyone with invasive medical devices.
For Dr. Van Duin, the larger takeaway is to limit the use of antimicrobial drugs to ensure they remain effective. Antibiotics can kill good bacteria in the gut, leaving people vulnerable to drug-resistant pathogens.
Overuse of antibiotics can encourage the targeted bacteria to mutate, rendering them immune to existing medication. "If we want to address the problem of antibiotic resistance, the best thing people can do is to take antibiotics only when necessary," he said.
Here's What You Need To Know About The Flurry Of Eye Drop Recalls
3 deaths linked to recalled eye drops
Three deaths linked to recalled eye drops 02:09The Food and Drug Administration recently announced recalls of several eye drop brands linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant bacteria responsible for three deaths and multiple cases of people going blind.
Eight people also have lost their vision and four have had their eyeballs removed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of March 14, 68 patients across 16 states were found to have contracted the bacteria, known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Millions of consumers use nonprescription, over-the-counter drops daily as a remedy for dryness, irritation and other mild eye conditions. But the flurry of recalls is leaving some regular users of the products wondering, are they safe? Here's what you should know.
Which brands of drops have been recalled?EzriCare and Delsam Pharma "Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops." Global Pharma Healthcare on February 2 recalled all lots of its EzriCare and Delsam Pharma brands of "Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops," which it said could be contaminated with bacteria.
The recall came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began an investigation of a cluster of multistate bacterial infections it believed were associated with the tear drops. At the time of the recall, there were 55 reports of adverse reactions to the drops, including eye infections, permanent vision loss and one death from a bloodstream infection.
Global Pharma Healthcare said in a a statement that consumers who use the contaminated eye drops could go blind.
Customers have been advised to immediately stop using the drops.
Delsam Pharma "Artificial Eye Ointment." Global Pharma on February 24 also recalled one batch of a product distributed by Delsam Pharma,"Artificial Eye Ointment," again due to possible microbial contamination.
The company said that using the contaminated ointment could lead to infections that cause blindness, though it has not received any reports of injuries related to the product.
Apotex "Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%." Another manufacturer, Apotex, on March 1 recalled six lots of its own brand of glaucoma drops, called "Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%," which is for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
The company said it initiated the recall "out of an abundance of caution" over concerns that cracks in some of the units' caps could compromise the drops' sterility and lead to infection.
An Apotex spokesperson said the company has observed four bottles with cracked caps and that there have been no reports of negative health outcomes related to the product.
Pharmedica "Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops." Pharmaceutical firm Pharmedica USA on March recalled two lots of "Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops," also over sterility concerns.
Pharmedica warned that patients who use the contaminated eye drops can risk going blind, but the company said it has not received any reports of infection or illness related to its product.
How were problems with eye drops first detected?According to the Associated Press, a patient in Los Angeles County, California, who had seen an ophthalmologist in the spring of 2022 developed an eye infection. Local health officials identified several more cases in subsequent months, with patients reporting eyes inflamed with heavy yellow pus that obscured most of the pupil.
The hospital that reported the first infection determined it was caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which can cause infections in the blood, lungs or other parts of the body. The institution also determined the bacteria is resistant to many antibiotics.
Over the course of the year, other states received multiple reports of drug-resistant Pseudomonas, including a report of a Washington man who died after suffering bloodstream infection linked to over-the-counter eye drops.
In January, testing confirmed the Florida cases were caused by the same bacteria strain as cases in California, Connecticut and Utah. On January 20, the CDC told doctors to avoid recommending the EzriCare product.
What are the risks?As of March 14, the CDC had identified 68 patients across 16 states who had been infected infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Health officials said the outbreak is linked to using artificial tears. Three people have died and eight patients reported vision loss, according to the agency.
The people who were sickened most commonly reported using EzriCare brand eye drops, while some patients used multiple brands.
Eye drops can cause infections in other parts of the body because the eye connects to the nasal cavity through the tear ducts and germs can move from the nasal cavity into the lungs.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which occurs naturally in the environment, can spread to humans who are exposed to contaminated water or soil. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can spread from one person to another through contaminated hands, equipment or surfaces, according to the CDC. Drug-resistant strains of the bacteria cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalized patients in the U.S. And more than 2,500 deaths.
What if I use the recalled drops?The CDC and FDA urge patients to immediately stop using the recalled eye drops — even if they haven't experienced an adverse reaction.
Patients who have previously used potentially unsafe products should contact their doctors and ask for a safe substitute.
When should I see a doctor for testing or treatment?Patients who have used recalled eye drops should assess if they have any of the following symptoms commonly associated with eye infections:
Patients with any signs of infection should immediately contact their health care provider for evaluation and treatment. Patients without symptoms do not need to undergo testing.
Are my eye drops safe?Over-the-counter medical products aren't as closely regulated as prescription drugs, noted CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus.
"There's not much testing of safety on any of these things, so when something comes out it's because there were complaints, or in this case a drug-resistant bacteria was linked to a bunch of cases," he told CBS MoneyWatch.
Health officials give new warnings about contaminated eye drops 02:07As far as products and brands that remain on the market and are not under recall, he advised patients to "stick to the big brands that you trust." He also urged consumers to consider whether they really need to use eye drops.
"Ask your eye doctor whether you really need them," Agus said. "If we don't really need something, then we probably shouldn't be using it. If it's not a real problem — maybe we have a tiny bit of dryness — we probably shouldn't be putting something into our eye," he said.
CBS News' Alexander Tin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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