Pink Eye Won't Go Away

my ped suggested to wash the eye with baby shampoo. I thought I was getting pink eye from a coworker and did it to myself. I was nervous that it would sting event though its not supposed to. I didn't feel a thing! I have used it on my kids when they have had pink eye and it helps. follow up with the drops after washing.

It might be a clogged tear duct. My nephew had that it and looked like pink eye. Ask the doctor if that could be it.

K.-

My daughter struggled with pink eye for several months. A week may not be enought time to determine the source. But if the pink eye doesn't respond to the antibiotics it may not be pink eye. It turned out that my daughter has allegies which were causing the watery eyes and pink eye symptoms. She uses children's zyrtec now and is fine.

Good luck.

Hi K.,
I'm an optometrist certified to treat eye disease in California. Actually most pink eye is either viral or allergic. Did your daughter's pediatrician prescribe the eye drops or did you see an eye doctor? Unless the pink eye is bacterial in cause, the antibiotics will do nothing. Also, calling an antibiotic "strong" is relative as only the most current topical ophthalmic antibiotics are approved for pediatric use. And, if the pink eye is bacterial, wouldn't you want to use an antibiotic that would be most effective? Some of the older antibiotics are less effective and have more side effects! Since most eye drops are not absorbed systemically, using a more effective antibiotic would get rid of the bugs the quickest. If the pink eye is viral, it may take 10-14 days of waiting to clear up (sorry, I had a patient who took 3 weeks to clear up). I would recommend taking your daughter to see a pediatric optometrist or pediatric ophthalmologist to check. Most pediatricians I know admit they aren't experts in treating the eye. To find an optometrist comfortable treating kids, you can check out the website: www.infantsee.org. It's actually the website for a public health program to assist infants in obtaining their first eye exam, but any of the listed optometrists will be able to help your daughter as well. Good luck!

I have never heard of oral antibiotics for pink eye. I've had it more times than I can count all growing up. I would go and make the dr. give her the drops. It will get rid of it in just a few days. Make sure she washes her hands a lot. If she used a pillow, wash the case every day or sheets (whatever her eye might touch when she is sleeping), make sure she doesn't touch her eye (even though I know that's hard to do with a 20 month old), just wash her hands a lot! I hope it clears up soon!

We've always been told to do the drops 4 times a day when either of my kids had pink eye. Or maybe it is an allergy and not pink eye.

try an allergist--it may not be bacterial; we've had a lot of allergic conjuntivitus over the years.

Take her back to the Dr. It could be a more serious bacteria that isn't affected by the antibiotic you have.
M. T.

If you are still nursing you can put breastmilk in the eye. Another natural remedy that has worked for many moms!

K. S,

I had pink eye for about six months, but I also went to an eye specialist. I took my three children to an eye specialist for general check ups once a year to keep them from having any problems. Keep up the medication and go to an eye specialist, they will know what to do. If you need a referral then get one for the insurance to cover the cost. Don't wait if you feel you need immediate attention right now. Good Luck.

Hi K., Sometimes oral atibiotocs don't work real well for pink eye, ask her ped, for the cream, there's a cream that works really well and it eases the discomfort as well. J. L.

Pink eye will go away on its own if it's viral, which it is most of the time. Make sure that the infection hasn't become bacterial. It normally goes away within a week or two without any sort of treatment.

Steeping black tea in boiling water and putting the tea bag on the eye helps soothe and heal the eye. The tanic acid in the tea acts as a natural anti-biotic. There is also a coule of homeopathic remedies that can help Similan makes a drop that you drop in the eye. Boiron makes little sugar candies "Euphrasia" that work well too.

Call your pediatrician right away. I think it's gone a bit long to still be so infected.

I'd take her to an eye Dr. pink eye clears up quick-so it sounds like something else. i don't know where you gare-Jennifer Simpsomn at UCI is super.

I had pink eye once and I got drops prescribed for it - it cleared up in just a couple of days. Ask your doctor for the drops instead. :)

Ouch, pink eye hurts really bad. Poor thing. Can you go to or ask another baby doctor. Maybe they will have a different treatment?
Sue

First hand experience on this one....two main causes of pink eye, one is bacteria...the other alergies! First, even though it is soothing to use the old warm teabag remedy, you have to be careful of spreading the infection from one eye back to the other. Pink eye is highly contageous so if you havent gotten it and antibiotics wont help then I suggest you look into the fabric and toys your baby has come into contact with, includding pets! Try to think about what changes may have occurred around the baby, new detergent? Are you or someone else wearing a new perfume or cologne? New toys or pets? New clothing? If not then I suggest MRSA it requires two antibiotics orally in addition to the eye drops. Look at other areas of the baby's body for signs, a little scratch may look slightly infected, it can be the tiniest thing.

Good luck!

Hi K., if you are breastfeeding, a couple of drops of your breastmilk right into your baby's eye every time you feed will do the trick. I know it may sound strange, but it really works! I heard of mothers doing it, but never thought I would, but when my daughter got pink eye...I tried it and it was gone in 2 days =)