there are holistic/ homeiopathic over the counter remedies, but they don't really work that well. It is best to go and observe a doctor, or go to a small clinic if they have them near you if you're without much time.

No there is nothing over the counter for pink eye. It requirements antibiotic eye drops as it's a strong little bugger of an infection. See your doctor right away and it will clear up quickly. Don't forget to take the whole course of antibiotics. It will appear better after only a day or two but you still need to finish the course of antibiotics.

The pharmacist at the local chemist shop will suggest some convenient drops or eve ointment

there are some over the counter sutff, but it doesnt really work that well.

Pink eye can go back and forth between each eye....

You SHOULD observe a doctor...antibiotic eye drops really are the only thing that cures this condition..

However, there are some things that YOU can do that will help..

First of all, WASH YOUR HANDS AND DO IT OFTEN...keep your hands, and fingers out of your eyes...I know that sometimes the itch is unbearable and the need to scratch is horrible but try to refrain from doing this.

Make certainly that you clean all surfaces that you touch often...like doorknobs, kitchen cabinet handles, toilet handle, things like that...

If you use a washcloth on your face, use it once, then throw it in the dirty laundry and use a clean one...

You might wanna try to soak your eye or eyes with warm salt water....using a dissimilar washcloth and a dissimilar bowl of warm salt water for each eye...do this so that you don't spread the pink eye from eye to eye...

If all of this does not work, then I would suggest that you definetely observe a doctor....and remember that it wouldn't be a bad idea to observe one anyway and obtain the antibiotic eye drops.

Your best bet is to observe a doctor to make certainly that your eyes aren't as infected with anything other than pink eye.



-make certainly when you're cleaning your eyes or touching anything that other people are using you're thoroughly cleaning your hands on a constant basis. As pink eye can be spread if you rub your eyes without washing and then you touch something that can be passed on to another.



I got my pink eye one time from touching a hand rail at a hospital (I was just leaving the bathroom actually, I washed my hands and rubbed my eye next day I had pink eye and it was torture)



I was recommended "Visine for Pinkeye" and I put that in my eyes and it made my eyes pus up with a green movie over just one of my eyes- sealing it shut. It however worked for my left eye which was strange.



I had to go back to the hospital to have the green movie removed from my right eye and put on sturdier antibiotics.

(I now found out I had an allergic reaction to the Visine eye drops for pink eye medication). Be careful about OTC (over the counter) medication. I was told the Visine for pink eye would solve my problem from a pharmacist, but bear in mind pharmacist can advocate you things but they don't know your entire medical history. Trust the doctor or trust your local hospital.



If you have pink eye on a weekend: Go to the hospital and not a walk-in clinic (some walk-in's don't treat it properly).



-Wash anything you touch (hands, dishes, clothes etc)



Most of all keep any washcloths that you used on your eyes away from other members of your family- highly recommended!!



DO NOT WEAR EYE MAKE-UP, this will only irritate your eyes more!



Seek a Doctor or Hospital for the best treatment for your pink eye(s)



Note: I was also told by the doctor in the hospital: in the future if I ever encountered "junk in my eyes" to use "Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo".

Put a little dime size on a damp wash cloth and wipe the "junk away" from your eyes.

Baby Shampoo by Johnson and Johnson -the yellow one. Is amazing for babies and adults because if it gets in your eyes it will NOT irritate your eyes. (I use it all the time). It is STING-FREE, because you could use it on babies.



I'm not a doctor, but I know this works. I was given prescribed medication from the doctor in the hospital and was told when in doubt without having the medication use the "Johnson and Johnson Baby shampoo to clean the eyes until I can follow up with my family doctor.



Note: Wash your hands as much as possible after you touch something.

If turning off taps at a bathroom at home or out somewhere use a paper towel to prevent the spread of germs.



Use antibacterial gel (many hospitals and pharmacy's and now even your local gym club or mall has started to have them everywhere) Keep clean, Keep smart.



Hope that helps!!

Question #1: It depends on the causative organism. If it's allergic conjunctivitis, certain antihistamine preparations will aid and sometimes steroids are necessary. If it's viral, it's self-limited. If it's bacterial, you cannot cure it yourself.



Question #2: See Question #1.



Question #3: See Question #1.



Conjunctivitis can be blepharoconjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivits and can actually be episcleritis which isn't conjunctivitis at all but appears similar and can be misdiagnosed, especially by the layperson (that's you).



If you believe you have conjunctivitis, obtain yourself diagnosed for the clear cut type.



FYI: In the other answers, I see many of mention of antibiotics for conjunctivitis. These work ONLY for bacterial conjunctivitis and conjunctivitis with a bacterial component. There is more than one kind. Get it diagnosed.