Do Eye Drops for Pink Eye Sting?

It feels like stinging even though it's not painful too much. I have experience for pink eye myself and my daughter had her first pink eye when she was three-and-half year old. She was already terrified when I held her arms even before experiencing the eye drop. I guess both being held down and having stuff into eyes make kids scared. Since he is too young, doing quick is the best way! I tried to explain and make her prepared, but doing it before she realized what was happening to her worked the best. Good luck!

when my daughter had pink eye a year or so ago the pharmacist told me that the eye drops sting and they sting bad! my son had it recently and he was prescribed a different kind of drops which did not. so it depends on which one you get.. i would do a web search for the kind that you are using to find out for sure.. they probably do hurt!

I just had pink eye and yes the first/second day it did sting. My doc said it might so to the severity of my pink eye. When my kids had pink eye when they were younger they screamed as well mostly from us restraining them to put the drops in.

Yes I thought the same thing with our 2 year old and then I got it from him. The good news is the drops only hurt sometimes...for me, other times it seemed to be more soothing (depending on how red/irritated eyes are at the time). Be careful that no one else in the family gets it. Good Luck!

D.. When I had pink eye everything hurt! After a couple of days the meds started to work and the pain went away. I never knew pink eye hurt as bad as it did. Good luck. I hope ur baby feels better soon.

I would say it is both! Most kids hate having anything put in their eyes but I also do think they sting. I have had pink eye before & I thought the drops stung when I put them in. Plus my 9 year old also said they do. I'm sorry your little man doesn't like them, hopefully you will be done w/ them soon! Good luck

Hi D.,
Yes, the drops sting a bit during the first two days they are applied because the eye is so irritated. After a couple of applications, the drops won't sting anymore.
Leanne

I've had pink eye many times. I always had Tobramycin (sp??) and it has never stung. Two of my kids have also had pink eye and scream like I am killing them if I drop the drops directly in their eye. They are much easier if the eye is closed and I drop it in the corner by the nose while they are lying down. When they end up opening the eye, the liquid just oozes in without the trauma of seeing and feeling it drop. Thankfully, you only have one more day left.

Yes they sting and it varies from patient to patient, some people are more tolerant of certain ingredients than others. I do not recommend trying "everything," especially when it comes to medications. Most meds have a paper (the product insert) included, if they don't then ask the pharmacist to include it. This insert lists all the possible side effects of a product. I always read this (mainly the "Indications and Usage" section and the "Adverse Reactions" section)- there should also be a "pediatrics" section, make sure you read all three sections even when the product is for you. This will help you determine what is normal and what you should be worried about. You can also call the manufacturer, they should be able to tell you if it is an expected/known reaction (they may even offer a refund). One more thing, sometimes a person with lighter colored eyes will have a greater sensitivity (what may sting a blue eyed person may not sting a brown eyed person). Good luck!!

I have used those drops before and yes, they can sting. Prob. depends on the sensitivity of your eyes.

No they do not sting. They just feel weird anything different in your eyes. G. W

They can sting a little for some. For future reference, there is an ointment that my kids are not afraid of. You put a little on a qtip and have them close their eyes and rub it along the eyelid like putting on eyeliner. as they blink it gets into their eyes. I was skeptical at first, I am an optician and I can get the drops in anyones eyes, but the ointment really makes life easier around here.

didn't read other responses & i don't really know if it stings or not, but...
even if the drops don't 'sting' per say, would you comfort your dear son less? would you discontinue treatment if the drops did sting? if there's a next time, ask the prescribing doc if there is anything that doesn't sting. but for now, you probably won't do anything differently either way, so what's the harm in just assuming they do sting and soothing your son through his discomfort?
*hugs!* it's terrible for our kiddos to go through anything they don't like or hurts, but as long as you're doing your best and what's best for them, take heart! <3 <3 <3

My son is a doctor and I was talking to him when I saw this email. No these particular eye drops don't sting. Your son just sounds like my daughter was, she would have nothing to do with medicine going into any part of her body. Good luck.