Pink eye
August 31, 2013 1:22 PM Subscribe
I got pink eye about a month ago, used over the counter bacterial drops and it mostly cleared up in three days, then last week it got a bit irritated again. I've been using the drops all week and it's not getting worse, but just seems to be in a holding pattern. I made an appointment with my doctor for Tuesday morning, there aren't any walk-ins open over the long weekend (wtf). Is there anything else I could be doing to help clear it up?
The first time the whites of my eye were bright pink and I had a fever and was miserable, now my whites are fine, just the inside of the eyelid is a bit irritated and it just feels off. I get some gunk in my eye in the morning and clear it out a few times a day, but it's nothing like last time.
I'm fairly certain it's bacterial and not viral due to the pus. According to everything I've read that's the main difference.
My throat is a bit sore as well.
I'm using Polysporin pink eye drops. I bought new ones when it re-appeared.
I'm not interested in symptom relief (so no teabags or anything like that). Symptom's aren't bothering me, I just want to kill the disease.
The first time the whites of my eye were bright pink and I had a fever and was miserable, now my whites are fine, just the inside of the eyelid is a bit irritated and it just feels off. I get some gunk in my eye in the morning and clear it out a few times a day, but it's nothing like last time.
I'm fairly certain it's bacterial and not viral due to the pus. According to everything I've read that's the main difference.
My throat is a bit sore as well.
I'm using Polysporin pink eye drops. I bought new ones when it re-appeared.
I'm not interested in symptom relief (so no teabags or anything like that). Symptom's aren't bothering me, I just want to kill the disease.
Did you keep using it after it'd stopped bothering you on the initial go? Apply one to two drops, four times daily for 7 to 10 days. Before use, read package insert for more complete information on dosing and cautions says polysporin.ca/pink-eye. Not immediately helpful but my knee-jerk, not-a-doctor guess is maybe you stopped too soon the first time?
(Weird possibly unnecessary warning: last I looked, the Polysporin antibiotic drops were not sold OTC {or possibly at all?} in the US like they are here, so a lot of Ask isn't going to be familiar with the stuff)
posted by kmennie at 2:41 PM on August 31, 2013
(Weird possibly unnecessary warning: last I looked, the Polysporin antibiotic drops were not sold OTC {or possibly at all?} in the US like they are here, so a lot of Ask isn't going to be familiar with the stuff)
posted by kmennie at 2:41 PM on August 31, 2013
That happened to my husband recently and after our primary doctor just waved himoff with more pinkeye drops, he saw our ophthalmologist who diagnosed him with a blocked tear duct. He prescribed a ddifferent kind of drops and it cleared it right up.
posted by platinum at 3:00 PM on August 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by platinum at 3:00 PM on August 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Have you thought about going to an eye doctor (some of whom are open on weekends)? I had a GP diagnose me with pink eye a couple months ago, when it "came back" and the meds didn't work, I went to my ophthalmologist who said it was never pink eye but instead it was that my eye is super dry.
posted by Shebear at 4:08 PM on August 31, 2013
posted by Shebear at 4:08 PM on August 31, 2013
I get a box of these wipes every now and again. I use one in the morning for a few days and it really helps with eye irritation. It amazing how much garbage is in the air that collects in the eyes overnight!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:19 PM on August 31, 2013
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:19 PM on August 31, 2013
If you have a health insurance plan, they will have a 24-hour emergency line. Otherwise, call or go to a 24 hour pharmacy and ask the pharmacist what to do.
On thing that can't hurt is to drop a large washcloth or a hand towel in the bathroom sink and soak it in hot but not unbearable water. Sit on the john and apply the compress over your eyes, for 15 minutes, renewing the hot water every 5 minutes or so. This will push out the pus.
posted by KRS at 9:04 PM on August 31, 2013
On thing that can't hurt is to drop a large washcloth or a hand towel in the bathroom sink and soak it in hot but not unbearable water. Sit on the john and apply the compress over your eyes, for 15 minutes, renewing the hot water every 5 minutes or so. This will push out the pus.
posted by KRS at 9:04 PM on August 31, 2013
Could you be reinfecting your eye with your face towel or your pillowcase?
posted by Aquifer at 9:22 PM on August 31, 2013
posted by Aquifer at 9:22 PM on August 31, 2013
I agree with going to a pharmacist to ask for further help. They also may be able to refer you to a walk-in clinic. Yelp (surprisingly) can help find a walk-in clinic as well, if you haven't looked there. If you have health insurance, since it's your eyes, it might be worth going to an ED/ER. They have specialists there, and that's a long time to have pinkeye. Good luck!
posted by dovesandstones at 11:57 AM on September 1, 2013
posted by dovesandstones at 11:57 AM on September 1, 2013
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Is there anything you would have used a month ago and again last week?
posted by travelwithcats at 2:03 PM on August 31, 2013