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| URL | https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pink-eye-quick-home-remedies | |||||||||
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| Meta Title | Pink Eye: Quick Home Remedies - American Academy of Ophthalmology | |||||||||
| Meta Description | Find out which pink eye home remedies actually help—and which can make it worse. Get safe, doctor-approved tips to relieve symptoms and heal faster. | |||||||||
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| Boilerpipe Text | How to Get Rid of Pink Eye Fast
When your child wakes up with red, gunky eyes, you want a quick fix—but the truth is, most cases of
pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis)
take about a week to clear up.
You can make that time more comfortable—and avoid spreading the infection to others—with the remedies below.
But First ... Know When to Call a Doctor
Pink eye can usually be treated at home. But sometimes you may need to see a doctor.
See your doctor or an
ophthalmologist
right away if you experience:
pain or trouble seeing
sensitivity to regular indoor lighting
more than a week of eye redness and discharge
fever, achiness, or other signs of a serious infection
Best Home Remedies for Pink Eye
The best remedy depends on the type of pink eye you have:
Viral pinkeye
is like a common cold in the eye. There is no treatment for the virus and usually you just have to let it heal on its own. Viral pink eye should go away within a week or two without treatment.
Stay away from school, work, or the gym until you have fully recovered from viral pinkeye.
Bacterial pinkeye
usually produces more mucus than viral or allergic pink eye. The good news is that your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotic eye drops to help this infection go away more quickly.
Stay away from school, work, or the gym while you have bacterial pinkeye.Â
Allergic pink eye
usually causes more watery discharge than viral and bacterial pinkeye, and it is not contagious.
You can continue going to school, work, or the gym with allergic conjunctivitis
and no one else will catch it.Â
Sometimes it's easy to figure out what kind of pink eye you have. Other times, only a doctor can tell
what's causing the problem
.
Here are the safest and most effective remedies for each type of pink eye.
Bacterial and viral pink eye home remedies
Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain killer
Use over-the-counter
lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)
If your eyelids are stuck together, a warm damp washcloth can loosen the dried mucus so you can open your eyes:
Soak a clean washcloth in warm water then wring it out so it’s not dripping
Lay the damp cloth over your eyes and leave it in place until it cools
Repeat this several times a day, or as often as is comfortable
A clean washcloth should be used each time so you don't spread the infection
A different washcloth should be used for each eye if you have pink eye in both eyes
Allergic pinkeye home remedies
If your conjunctivitis is caused by allergies,Â
stopping the source of the allergy is important
. Allergic pink eye will continue as long as you're in contact with whatever is causing it.
To reduce the symptoms of allergic pink eye:
Find the source of your allergies (pet hair, dust, pollen are common causes) and avoid it
Take allergy medicine or use allergy eye drops
Put a cool, damp washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes
Use over-the-counter
lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)
Video: How to insert eyedrops
Keep Pink Eye to Yourself — Avoid Spreading It to Others
Pink eye can spread quickly from eye to eye, and from person to person. Staying clean can protect others from catching pink eye. Cleanliness can also prevent the infection from spreading to both eyes, if only one is infected.
Stay clean to protect yourself and others:
Keep your hands away from infected eyes
Wash your hands often, especially if you have touched infected eyes or discharge
Use a fresh towel every time you clean infected eyes
Discard any tissues and wash any towels that have touched infected eyes
Change pillowcases and sheets every day
Don't share anything that touches your eyes, such as washcloths or makeup
Stop wearing
contact lenses
until your eyes are back to normal. Use a new pair after you recover from pink eye. Your old contacts are likely infected and could make you sick again if you continue to wear them.
Stop wearing
eye makeup
. Throw out your old eye makeup and get new makeup once your eyes are healthy.
Don't Try These Dangerous Remedies at Home
There's a lot of bad advice about pink eye on the internet. Never put anything in your eye that isn't approved by a doctor.
Eye infections in young children can be very serious — even blinding. Avoid
these unproven remedies
and only accept advice from medically trusted sources.
Visine may make pink eye pain worse
Whatever kind of pink eye you have, don't use
red-reducing eye drops
, like Visine. These kinds of eye drops may be very uncomfortable if you have an infection. They also could make your symptoms worse.
Breastmilk is not safe for eyes
You may have heard that substances in breast milk can cure infection and soothe inflammation. But that's not true.
Studies of breastmilk and pink eye
suggest this remedy does not work.
In fact, breastmilk could be more harmful than helpful. That's because it introduces new bacteria into the eye and can cause an even more serious infection.
Herbal extracts can harm eyes
Foods and herbal extracts are not sterile. Keep these extracts far from your eyes to avoid making your infection worse.
Measles and Pink Eye
Measles is making a comeback among unvaccinated children in the United States. People with measles
often develop pink eye
— either before a measles rash or at the same time.
How can you tell if pink eye is caused by measles? Ask these questions to understand your risk:
Is there a reported outbreak of measles in your area?
Has the person been vaccinated for measles? If so, it is unlikely that pink eye was caused by measles.
Does the person have other measles symptoms, like a red, blotchy rash or a high fever (above 104 degrees Farenheit or 40 Celsius)? A fever by itself isn't necessarily a sign of measles, but consult a doctor to make sure.
Is the person sensitive to regular, indoor light? Light-sensitivity sometimes occurs in measles-related pink eye.
Sensitivity to indoor light is
always
a sign of a serious eye condition, usually involving sight-threatening damage to the
cornea
. If you develop light sensitivity, you should see an
ophthalmologist
, not just a primary care doctor or pediatrician.
If you think someone has measles-related pink eye, they should see an ophthalmologist right away. Make sure your healthcare provider reports the measles infection to local health authorities.
In some cases, measles can damage the cornea,
retina
or
optic nerve
and result in vision loss or blindness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pink Eye
Q. When should I see a doctor for pink eye instead of treating it at home?
A: You should see an
ophthalmologist
if you have moderate to severe pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, intense redness, symptoms that get worse, or if you have a health condition that weakens the immune system. You should also seek care if symptoms last more than a few days without improvement. Learn more about
pink eye treatment
.
Q. Is pink eye contagious? How long am I contagious?
A: Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious, while allergic pink eye is not. Viral pink eye is typically contagious as long as the eyes are red and tearing, and can sometimes last several days. Good handwashing and avoiding shared items can help prevent spreading it to others. Learn more about
pink eye recovery
.
Q. Do I always need antibiotics for pink eye?
A: No, antibiotics are not always necessary. If the pink eye is viral (the most common type in adults), antibiotics will not help, because they don’t treat viruses. For allergic pink eye, antibiotics are not helpful. Find out how to treat
allergic pink eye
.Â
Q. How can I treat pink eye at home safely, and what should I avoid?
A: For many cases, safe home care can help relieve symptoms. Use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). Use a warm, damp washcloth to gently loosen crust or mucus from eyelids, but only if the cloth is clean and used once per eye, to avoid spreading infection. For allergic pink eye: avoid the allergen (such as pollen, pet hair, or dust) and try allergy eye drops or antihistamines. Avoid risky, unproven “remedies” and don’t put anything in your eye that isn’t doctor-approved, such as breastmilk, herbal extracts, or redness-reducing drops such as “get-the-red-out” eye drops. These can worsen symptoms or lead to complications. | |||||||||
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Ă— | |||||||||
| Readable Markdown | ## How to Get Rid of Pink Eye Fast
When your child wakes up with red, gunky eyes, you want a quick fix—but the truth is, most cases of [pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis)](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pink-eye-conjunctivitis) take about a week to clear up.
You can make that time more comfortable—and avoid spreading the infection to others—with the remedies below.
## But First ... Know When to Call a Doctor
Pink eye can usually be treated at home. But sometimes you may need to see a doctor.
See your doctor or an [ophthalmologist](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/what-is-ophthalmologist) right away if you experience:
- pain or trouble seeing
- [sensitivity to regular indoor lighting](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/light-sensitivity)
- more than a week of eye redness and discharge
- fever, achiness, or other signs of a serious infection
## Best Home Remedies for Pink Eye
The best remedy depends on the type of pink eye you have:
- **Viral pinkeye** is like a common cold in the eye. There is no treatment for the virus and usually you just have to let it heal on its own. Viral pink eye should go away within a week or two without treatment. **Stay away from school, work, or the gym until you have fully recovered from viral pinkeye.**
- **Bacterial pinkeye** usually produces more mucus than viral or allergic pink eye. The good news is that your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotic eye drops to help this infection go away more quickly. **Stay away from school, work, or the gym while you have bacterial pinkeye.**
- **Allergic pink eye** usually causes more watery discharge than viral and bacterial pinkeye, and it is not contagious. **You can continue going to school, work, or the gym with allergic conjunctivitis** and no one else will catch it.
Sometimes it's easy to figure out what kind of pink eye you have. Other times, only a doctor can tell [what's causing the problem](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/eye-infections).
Here are the safest and most effective remedies for each type of pink eye.
### Bacterial and viral pink eye home remedies
- Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain killer
- Use over-the-counter [lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lubricating-eye-drops)
- If your eyelids are stuck together, a warm damp washcloth can loosen the dried mucus so you can open your eyes:
- Soak a clean washcloth in warm water then wring it out so it’s not dripping
- Lay the damp cloth over your eyes and leave it in place until it cools
- Repeat this several times a day, or as often as is comfortable
- A clean washcloth should be used each time so you don't spread the infection
- A different washcloth should be used for each eye if you have pink eye in both eyes
### Allergic pinkeye home remedies
If your conjunctivitis is caused by allergies, [stopping the source of the allergy is important](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/allergies-treatment). Allergic pink eye will continue as long as you're in contact with whatever is causing it.
To reduce the symptoms of allergic pink eye:
- Find the source of your allergies (pet hair, dust, pollen are common causes) and avoid it
- Take allergy medicine or use allergy eye drops
- Put a cool, damp washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes
- Use over-the-counter [lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lubricating-eye-drops)
### Video: How to insert eyedrops
## Keep Pink Eye to Yourself — Avoid Spreading It to Others
Pink eye can spread quickly from eye to eye, and from person to person. Staying clean can protect others from catching pink eye. Cleanliness can also prevent the infection from spreading to both eyes, if only one is infected.
Stay clean to protect yourself and others:
- Keep your hands away from infected eyes
- Wash your hands often, especially if you have touched infected eyes or discharge
- Use a fresh towel every time you clean infected eyes
- Discard any tissues and wash any towels that have touched infected eyes
- Change pillowcases and sheets every day
- Don't share anything that touches your eyes, such as washcloths or makeup
- Stop wearing [contact lenses](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care) until your eyes are back to normal. Use a new pair after you recover from pink eye. Your old contacts are likely infected and could make you sick again if you continue to wear them.
- Stop wearing [eye makeup](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-makeup). Throw out your old eye makeup and get new makeup once your eyes are healthy.
## Don't Try These Dangerous Remedies at Home
There's a lot of bad advice about pink eye on the internet. Never put anything in your eye that isn't approved by a doctor.
Eye infections in young children can be very serious — even blinding. Avoid [these unproven remedies](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/pink-eye-myths-facts-conjunctivitis) and only accept advice from medically trusted sources.
### Visine may make pink eye pain worse
Whatever kind of pink eye you have, don't use [red-reducing eye drops](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/redness-relieving-eye-drops), like Visine. These kinds of eye drops may be very uncomfortable if you have an infection. They also could make your symptoms worse.
### Breastmilk is not safe for eyes
You may have heard that substances in breast milk can cure infection and soothe inflammation. But that's not true. [Studies of breastmilk and pink eye](https://bjo.bmj.com/content/97/3/377.2) suggest this remedy does not work.
In fact, breastmilk could be more harmful than helpful. That's because it introduces new bacteria into the eye and can cause an even more serious infection.
### Herbal extracts can harm eyes
Foods and herbal extracts are not sterile. Keep these extracts far from your eyes to avoid making your infection worse.
## Measles and Pink Eye
Measles is making a comeback among unvaccinated children in the United States. People with measles [often develop pink eye](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/six-ways-measles-can-affect-eyes-2) — either before a measles rash or at the same time.
How can you tell if pink eye is caused by measles? Ask these questions to understand your risk:
- Is there a reported outbreak of measles in your area?
- Has the person been vaccinated for measles? If so, it is unlikely that pink eye was caused by measles.
- Does the person have other measles symptoms, like a red, blotchy rash or a high fever (above 104 degrees Farenheit or 40 Celsius)? A fever by itself isn't necessarily a sign of measles, but consult a doctor to make sure.
- Is the person sensitive to regular, indoor light? Light-sensitivity sometimes occurs in measles-related pink eye.
Sensitivity to indoor light is *always* a sign of a serious eye condition, usually involving sight-threatening damage to the [cornea](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/cornea-103). If you develop light sensitivity, you should see an [ophthalmologist](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/what-is-ophthalmologist), not just a primary care doctor or pediatrician.
If you think someone has measles-related pink eye, they should see an ophthalmologist right away. Make sure your healthcare provider reports the measles infection to local health authorities.
In some cases, measles can damage the cornea, [retina](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/retina-103) or [optic nerve](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/optic-nerve-3) and result in vision loss or blindness.
## Frequently Asked Questions About Pink Eye
### Q. When should I see a doctor for pink eye instead of treating it at home?
A: You should see an [ophthalmologist](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/what-is-ophthalmologist) if you have moderate to severe pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, intense redness, symptoms that get worse, or if you have a health condition that weakens the immune system. You should also seek care if symptoms last more than a few days without improvement. Learn more about [pink eye treatment](Source:%20https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pink-eye-conjunctivitis).
### Q. Is pink eye contagious? How long am I contagious?
A: Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious, while allergic pink eye is not. Viral pink eye is typically contagious as long as the eyes are red and tearing, and can sometimes last several days. Good handwashing and avoiding shared items can help prevent spreading it to others. Learn more about [pink eye recovery](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pink-eye-conjunctivitis).
### Q. Do I always need antibiotics for pink eye?
A: No, antibiotics are not always necessary. If the pink eye is viral (the most common type in adults), antibiotics will not help, because they don’t treat viruses. For allergic pink eye, antibiotics are not helpful. Find out how to treat [allergic pink eye](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/allergies).
### Q. How can I treat pink eye at home safely, and what should I avoid?
A: For many cases, safe home care can help relieve symptoms. Use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). Use a warm, damp washcloth to gently loosen crust or mucus from eyelids, but only if the cloth is clean and used once per eye, to avoid spreading infection. For allergic pink eye: avoid the allergen (such as pollen, pet hair, or dust) and try allergy eye drops or antihistamines. Avoid risky, unproven “remedies” and don’t put anything in your eye that isn’t doctor-approved, such as breastmilk, herbal extracts, or redness-reducing drops such as “get-the-red-out” eye drops. These can worsen symptoms or lead to complications. | |||||||||
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