Adult Pink Eye Treatment (Conjunctivitis)
Red, irritated eyes with discharge or itching are common signs of conjunctivitis, often called pink eye. TeleDirectMD connects you with a board-certified MD for guideline-based evaluation and, when appropriate, same-day prescription eye drop treatment by secure video visit.
- $49 flat-fee visit, no surprise bills
- MD-only care, no mid-level substitutions
- No insurance required, HSA/FSA-friendly
- Available in 25+ states by secure video visit
TeleDirectMD is physician-led virtual urgent care. Every visit is with a real doctor, Parth Bhavsar, MD.
What Is Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) in Adults?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin tissue covering the white part of the eye and inner eyelids. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, or irritants. Typical symptoms include eye redness, discharge, tearing, irritation, and sometimes mild light sensitivity or gritty sensation.
Viral and allergic conjunctivitis are more common than true bacterial infection in many adults. Antibiotic eye drops are only helpful for bacterial conjunctivitis and do not shorten viral or allergic cases. The key is to distinguish likely viral, bacterial, and allergic patterns and to recognize serious eye problems that require urgent in-person evaluation.
During your TeleDirectMD visit, an MD reviews your symptoms, onset, contact lens use, exposures, and vision changes to determine whether telehealth management is appropriate or whether you need prompt in-person eye care.
Symptoms and Red Flags for Adult Pink Eye
This table highlights typical conjunctivitis features versus findings that should trigger in-person or emergency eye care.
| Finding | What It Suggests | Telehealth Appropriate? | Red Flag Requiring In-Person or ER Eye Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red eye with watery discharge | Common with viral conjunctivitis | Yes, if vision is normal and pain is mild | In-person care if associated with significant light sensitivity or vision loss |
| Red eye with itching and stringy or clear discharge | Typical for allergic conjunctivitis | Yes, telehealth can guide antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer treatment | In-person care if swelling is severe or vision is affected |
| Red eye with thick yellow or green discharge | More suggestive of bacterial conjunctivitis | Yes, if pain is mild and vision is intact | Urgent eye care if there is severe pain, vision change, or contact lens use with deep eye pain |
| Morning crusting and stuck eyelids | Often due to bacterial or viral conjunctivitis | Yes, telehealth is appropriate for evaluation and home care guidance | In-person care if accompanied by corneal haze, severe photophobia, or vision loss |
| Contact lens use with new red, painful eye | Raises concern for keratitis or corneal ulcer | Telehealth can triage but will often direct urgent in-person eye evaluation | Urgent in-person or ER eye care is recommended |
| Significant eye pain (not just irritation) | Not typical of simple conjunctivitis; may indicate deeper eye disease | No, beyond uncomplicated telehealth pink eye management | Emergency eye evaluation is needed |
| Blurred vision that does not clear with blinking | Suggests corneal involvement, uveitis, or other serious eye problem | No, telehealth alone is not appropriate | Urgent or emergency in-person eye care is required |
| Severe light sensitivity (photophobia) | May indicate corneal disease or uveitis | No, requires in-person ophthalmic exam | Emergency care if combined with pain and vision loss |
| Unilateral red eye with vesicular rash around the eye | Concerning for herpes zoster ophthalmicus | Telehealth can triage but should direct urgent in-person eye and systemic evaluation | Urgent in-person or ER care is recommended |
| Recurrent episodes of red eye | May indicate chronic allergic disease, dry eye, or other underlying issues | Yes, telehealth can discuss patterns and next steps | In-person ophthalmology follow-up recommended if frequent or atypical |
How We Distinguish Viral, Bacterial, and Allergic Conjunctivitis
Many eye conditions cause redness. During your TeleDirectMD video visit, your physician uses symptom patterns, exposures, contact lens history, and visual appearance described on camera to narrow down the most likely cause.
- Viral conjunctivitis: Red eye, watery discharge, irritation, often starting in one eye and spreading to the other. May follow a cold or other viral illness and involve nearby lymph node tenderness.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis: Red eye with thicker yellow or green discharge, matting of lashes, and crusting on waking. Both eyes may be involved, and symptoms can be more purulent.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: Prominent itching in both eyes with stringy or clear discharge, swelling, and associated allergy symptoms like sneezing or nasal congestion.
- Dry eye or irritant exposure: Grittiness, burning, and intermittent blurred vision that improves with blinking, often related to screen time, low humidity, or chemical exposures.
- Serious eye disease (keratitis, uveitis, glaucoma): Pain, marked light sensitivity, fixed vision changes, halos around lights, or headache. These require in-person urgent or emergency eye care and are not managed as simple conjunctivitis.
The goal is to guide safe at-home management for uncomplicated pink eye, use antibiotic drops when truly indicated, and promptly identify cases where an eye specialist needs to examine you in person.
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate for Pink Eye
When a TeleDirectMD Video Visit Is Appropriate
- Adult with mild to moderate eye redness and irritation
- Watery, stringy, or mild mucous discharge
- No severe eye pain and no sudden vision loss
- Comfortable describing eye appearance and symptoms on camera
- Contact lens use can be stopped immediately if advised
- Access to a nearby pharmacy for prescription eye drops if needed
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Eye Care
- Severe eye pain, not just irritation or burning
- Blurred vision that does not clear with blinking
- Marked light sensitivity or inability to open the eye in light
- Contact lens wearer with deep eye pain or decreased vision
- Eye trauma, chemical exposure, or foreign body
- Hazy cornea, halos around lights, or severe headache with red eye
- Vesicular rash on the eyelids or forehead
If any red flag is present, do not rely on virtual care alone. Seek urgent in-person or emergency eye evaluation promptly, and call emergency services if there is concern for vision-threatening illness.
How TeleDirectMD Treats Adult Pink Eye
TeleDirectMD focuses on accurate classification of conjunctivitis type and evidence-based prescribing. Viral and allergic conjunctivitis are treated with supportive and anti-allergy measures, while true bacterial conjunctivitis may require topical antibiotic drops.
Supportive and Preventive Care
- Frequent handwashing and avoiding touching or rubbing the eyes
- Using clean tissues or disposable wipes to gently remove discharge
- Temporary discontinuation of contact lenses until fully cleared
- Cool or warm compresses to reduce irritation and swelling
- Avoiding sharing towels, pillows, or eye makeup to prevent spread
Allergic Conjunctivitis Management
For allergic conjunctivitis, TeleDirectMD emphasizes avoidance of known triggers and use of antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer eye drops when appropriate. Lubricating artificial tears can also help flush allergens and soothe the surface of the eye.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis Management
When history and presentation support uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis, topical antibiotic drops or ointment may be prescribed. TeleDirectMD avoids unnecessary broad-spectrum agents and reserves antibiotic treatment for cases where bacterial infection is likely.
Stewardship and Safety
- Antibiotic eye drops are not prescribed for clearly viral or allergic conjunctivitis
- We avoid steroid-containing eye drops in primary telehealth conjunctivitis care
- Contact lens-related pain or vision changes prompt referral for in-person ophthalmic evaluation
- Patients receive clear instructions on monitoring symptoms and when to seek urgent eye care
Common Medications for Adult Pink Eye
Medication choices depend on whether conjunctivitis appears viral, bacterial, or allergic, as well as your medical history and other medications. The table below shows commonly used options for adults with uncomplicated conjunctivitis. Exact selection and dosing are always individualized.
| Medication | Dose | Duration | When It Is Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimethoprim–polymyxin B ophthalmic drops | 1–2 drops in affected eye(s) every 4 hours while awake | 5–7 days | Common first-line topical antibiotic for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis in adults without allergy |
| Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment | Thin ribbon inside lower eyelid up to 4 times daily | 5–7 days | Alternative topical antibiotic, often preferred for those who tolerate ointment and in cases of mild infection |
| Ketotifen ophthalmic solution | 1 drop in affected eye(s) twice daily | As needed during allergy flares | Over-the-counter antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer for allergic conjunctivitis symptoms |
| Olopatadine ophthalmic solution | Product-specific dosing as prescribed | As needed during allergy season | Prescription antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer for allergic conjunctivitis in adults seeking stronger control |
| Lubricating artificial tears | 1–2 drops up to several times per day | Short-term or ongoing use as needed | Used to relieve irritation and dryness in viral or allergic conjunctivitis and to flush out irritants |
TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances and avoids steroid-containing eye drops for uncomplicated conjunctivitis via telehealth. All treatment decisions follow adult eye care and antibiotic stewardship principles when applicable.
Home Care, Monitoring, and Return to Work
Many adults with uncomplicated conjunctivitis notice improvement within several days, though mild redness or irritation can take longer to fully resolve. Your TeleDirectMD physician will explain expected recovery patterns and when to escalate care.
- Follow hand hygiene and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
- Stop contact lens use until cleared and replace or clean lenses and cases as directed
- Use prescribed and over-the-counter eye drops exactly as recommended
- Do not share eye makeup or personal items that contact the eyes
- Monitor for worsening pain, new vision changes, or marked light sensitivity and seek urgent care if they appear
- Discuss timing of return to work based on symptom improvement, workplace policies, and contagion risk
Many adults can work while recovering if they feel well enough and can follow hygiene measures, but jobs with close contact or high-risk populations may require additional precautions or short-term time off.
TeleDirectMD provides MD-only virtual urgent care for adults through secure video visits at a $49 flat-fee price point, available in 25+ states. We do not prescribe controlled substances and we follow evidence-based guidelines for every condition, including conjunctivitis. Some situations require in-person eye evaluation or emergency care. Your TeleDirectMD physician will be clear about what telehealth can and cannot safely manage so you know what to expect.
Clinical content reviewed by Parth Bhavsar, MD.
Frequently Asked Questions about Online Pink Eye Treatment
For adults with mild to moderate redness, discharge, and irritation but no severe pain or sudden vision loss, telehealth is well suited for evaluation and home care planning. TeleDirectMD physicians screen for red flags that require urgent in-person or emergency eye care instead of virtual-only management.
We look at discharge type, whether one or both eyes are involved, presence of itching, recent colds or allergies, contact lens use, and exposure history. Watery discharge and recent viral illness suggest viral conjunctivitis, thick purulent discharge suggests bacterial, and prominent itching with bilateral redness points toward allergic conjunctivitis.
No. Many adult cases are viral or allergic and improve with supportive and anti-allergy measures alone. Antibiotic eye drops are reserved for likely bacterial conjunctivitis. TeleDirectMD follows antibiotic stewardship principles to avoid unnecessary antibiotic drops that do not help nonbacterial cases.
Many uncomplicated cases improve within several days to a week. If redness, discharge, or discomfort worsen, if you develop significant light sensitivity or vision changes, or if symptoms persist beyond expected time frames, in-person evaluation is recommended. TeleDirectMD physicians help you recognize when the course is no longer typical for simple conjunctivitis.
No. Contact lenses should be stopped with any suspected conjunctivitis. Continued lens use increases the risk of corneal infection. TeleDirectMD physicians will advise stopping lenses, discarding or disinfecting them appropriately, and delaying reuse until the eye has fully recovered and you have been cleared to restart.
Severe eye pain, sudden vision loss, marked light sensitivity, halos around lights, corneal haze, or red eye with a severe headache can indicate serious eye disease. These require urgent or emergency in-person care. TeleDirectMD emphasizes these red flags and will direct you to emergency eye care whenever virtual-only management is not safe.
Many adults can work if symptoms are mild and they can follow hygiene measures to avoid spread. Jobs that involve close contact or high-risk populations may require short-term time off. TeleDirectMD physicians can discuss return-to-work timing based on your symptoms, job setting, and workplace policies.
Frequent handwashing, avoiding eye rubbing, using separate towels and pillowcases, and not sharing eye makeup or personal items help reduce spread. Cleaning commonly touched surfaces and following your physician’s instructions also lower the risk of transmission at home and work.
TeleDirectMD is MD-only, uses a flat $49 fee, and operates in 25+ states with a focus on evidence-based care and antibiotic stewardship. Every visit is with a board-certified physician who clearly explains when telehealth is appropriate, when antibiotic or allergy drops are indicated, and when in-person or emergency eye care is safer.