The treatments for pink eye depend on the underlying cause. For pink eye caused by allergies, the doctor may prescribe eye drops that contain allergy medication.

Cases of infectious pink eye are treated differently depending on the cause of the infection. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Symptoms usually begin to improve in one or two days and after a few days of treatment, the irritation is usually gone. However, you should remember to use the antibiotics for as long as the doctor prescribes; don’t stop just because the symptoms go away. This can increase the chances of recurrent infection

A viral infection cannot be treated with antibiotics. There is no sense in using them because viruses are unaffected by antibiotics. A warm compress may relieve some of the discomfort. The doctor may recommend over the counter medications such as artificial tears or topical decongestant eye drops that can help soothe the eye and reduce the irritation. Really, you just have to wait for the infection to run its course. Viral pink eye usually takes 7 to 10 days to clear up, but symptoms may last as long as three weeks.