Home Remedies for Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Some home remedies for pink eye, or conjunctivitis, include artificial tears, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, and allergy medications. Conjunctivitis is a condition that can cause your eyes to be red, itchy, gunky, and overall uncomfortable. Pink eye may have an allergic, bacterial, or viral cause and may last up to two weeks.

Pink eye—medically called conjunctivitis—is a condition when the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eye become swollen and red. The three main causes of pink eye are viruses, bacteria, and allergies. Symptoms often include eyes that are:

• Burning or itchy
• Pink or red
• Swollen
• Watery

You may have mucus-like discharge from your eye. Sometimes, pink eye can cause blurry vision or sensitivity to light. Symptoms are typically mild, but they can become worse and might require a visit to a healthcare provider.

To get rid of pink eye, stop using contact lenses and avoid makeup. You’ll want to throw away the old contacts and makeup and wait to use them again once the infection has resolved.

If your pink eye is unrelated to contacts or makeup, you may consider doing the following home remedies to get relief and help get rid of pink eye.

For cases of pink eye that you can resolve at home, different options may work best according to the type you have. Treatments may only be appropriate for one or two types rather than all.

Ensure that you use home remedies that work and are safe. For example, two remedies that aren’t safe are redness-relieving eyedrops and breast milk.

Bacterial and Viral Pink Eye

Artificial tears are lubricating drops, a mainstay of treating pink eye at home. You can also get relief with the use of a damp cloth. A warm, clean cloth placed over your eyes is a way to loosen dried mucus that doesn’t allow your eyes to open.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, like ibuprofen, can be beneficial if viral or bacterial pink eye is painful. Also, keep in mind that antibiotics are a treatment for bacterial pink eye only. A healthcare provider will not prescribe antibiotics if a virus has caused your case of conjunctivitis.

Allergic Pink Eye

Allergy eyedrops and medications may give you some relief from allergic pink eye, but artificial tear drops also work for allergic conjunctivitis. The drops can help rinse any irritants in your eyes—be it a microbe, pet dander, or cosmetic ingredient. You can put the drops in the fridge and use them chilled or consider using a cool, damp cloth over your eyes for relief.

If your case of pink eye is allergic, you can ease symptoms by reducing exposure to that trigger. Talk to a healthcare provider if you don’t know what you’re reacting to. They may be able to figure out what’s causing your symptoms, or they may refer you to an allergist for evaluation.

It’s best to see a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms with pink eye:

• A lot of eye discharge
• Eye pain
• Intense eye redness
• Light sensitivity or blurred vision that doesn’t get better when discharged is removed from the eyes
• Pink eye symptoms that don’t get better with treatment or get worse

You’ll also need to see a healthcare provider if you have a weakened immune system and pink eye. Newborns with pink eye also need immediate medical attention.

Preventing the spread of pink eye can vary depending on the type of pink eye you have. However, one general tip for prevention is proper handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Another way of preventing pink eye is not sharing personal items such as pillowcases, sheets, and makeup. This is helpful when you do and don’t have pink eye.

Also, cleaning glasses and eyeglass cases is helpful. You’ll also want to throw away eye-related products used during a pink eye infection can help with prevention. Those products may include:

There are a few different at-home remedies for treating pink eye, no matter the type you have. For example, you can try artificial tears and cool or warm cloths, among other remedies, for pink eye relief.

Remember to replace or clean infected contact lenses, cases, saline solution, eye makeup, pillowcases, and sheets to prevent reinfection. Also, see a healthcare provider if you have symptoms like eye pain and redness with pink eye.