Pinkeye Prophylaxis?

December 15, 2024 1:31 AM

I was in close contact with someone who has pink eye, and I'm worried I'm developing early symptoms. Is there anything I can do?
posted by matkline to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

Difficult to say without more information.

Pink eye can be caused by allergy, an injury, or a range of different bacterial and viral infections.

Your friend might be very infectious, or not at all.

Assuming it's a viral infection, I don't believe there's anything you can do to prevent it once you have already started the infection. You can relieve symptoms with eye drops or headache meds.
posted by Zumbador at 1:50 AM on December 15, 2024 [1 favorite]

If it’s bacterial you can go get the polysporin eye drops (in Canada these are available over the counter). I wouldn’t start them until you have clear symptoms, but often the mild antibiotic works if used right away. If it doesnt after a couple of days, don’t assume it’s viral - see your doctor for the better treatment and assessment at that point.

(My kids brought pinkeye home from daycare a few times. FWIW, I’ve almost never gotten it from an adult, it always took kids rubbing their eyes and then the kind of close picking up/hugging/cuddling while you read contact.)
posted by warriorqueen at 5:06 AM on December 15, 2024

My toddler/preschool daughter had tubes placed in her tear ducts because they drained poorly. We had months of pinkeye to follow, and I had prophylactic Tobrex (tobramycin) eye drops at the ready. She had pinkeye at least a dozen times during this period, but to be fair she had tubes for months, then removed, then put back for another six months. Yeah, it was awful - 4 surgeries!

Maybe your doctor will prescribe prophylactic eye drops if you ask. My eye doctor recently prescribed similar drops for me when I had a close call with a person with pinkeye, and it turned out I didn't develop it. I still have the unopened eye drops for the next time.
posted by citygirl at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2024

In addition to eye-specific advice, perhaps anything you'd do if you felt like you might be coming down with a cold? For me that would be hydration, nutrition, sleep, relaxation. If the humidity in your environment is low, maybe address that to see if it makes your eyes more comfortable--simmering a pot of water on the stove can work in a pinch.
posted by aincandenza at 8:58 AM on December 15, 2024

My friend swears by warm compresses.
posted by gudrun at 10:44 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

Came here to say warm compresses! I also swear by them.
posted by dizziest at 11:38 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

My eye doctor swears by hypochlorous acid spray. It helps even if it's viral, which most pinkeye is. You don't need to buy one of the expensive skincare brands, because it's all the same stuff. Just use it to rise your eyes multiple times a day.

If you get it, stye ointment can make you more comfortable.
posted by mostlymartha at 12:07 PM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

Wash your hands. Don't rub your eyes. If you wear mascara, throw it away and buy new when you are certain you're clear. Change your pillowcase and towels.
posted by Enid Lareg at 1:21 PM on December 17, 2024 [1 favorite]