Editing Conjunctivitis (section)

== Management ==
Conjunctivitis resolves in 65% of cases without treatment, within 2–5 days. The prescription of antibiotics is not necessary in most cases.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rose P | title = Management strategies for acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: a systematic review | journal = Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy | volume = 8 | issue = 12 | pages = 1903–1921 | date = August 2007 | pmid = 17696792 | doi = 10.1517/14656566.8.12.1903 | s2cid = 45899988 }}</ref>

=== Viral ===
Viral conjunctivitis usually resolves on its own and does not require any specific treatment.<ref name=Az2013/> Antihistamines (e.g., [[diphenhydramine]]) or mast cell stabilizers (e.g., [[Cromoglicic acid|cromolyn]]) may be used to help with the symptoms.<ref name=Az2013/> Povidone-iodine has been suggested as a treatment, but as of 2008, evidence to support it was poor.<ref name="BartlettJaanus2008">{{Cite book | vauthors = Bartlett JD, Jaanus SD |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eybg7fbs65MC&pg=PA454 |title=Clinical Ocular Pharmacology |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7506-7576-5 |pages=454– |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203204429/https://books.google.com/books?id=Eybg7fbs65MC&pg=PA454 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Allergic ===
For allergic conjunctivitis, cool water poured over the face with the head inclined downward constricts capillaries, and [[artificial tears]] sometimes relieve discomfort in mild cases. In more severe cases, [[NSAID|nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications]] and [[antihistamine]]s may be prescribed. Persistent allergic conjunctivitis may also require topical steroid drops.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Patel DS, Arunakirinathan M, Stuart A, Angunawela R | title = Allergic eye disease | journal = BMJ | volume = 359 | pages = j4706 | date = November 2017 | pmid = 29097360 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.j4706 | s2cid = 5316455 }}</ref>

=== Bacterial ===
Bacterial conjunctivitis usually resolves without treatment.<ref name=Az2013/> Topical antibiotics may be needed only if no improvement is observed after 3 days.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Visscher KL, Hutnik CM, Thomas M | title = Evidence-based treatment of acute infective conjunctivitis: Breaking the cycle of antibiotic prescribing | journal = Canadian Family Physician | volume = 55 | issue = 11 | pages = 1071–1075 | date = November 2009 | pmid = 19910590 | pmc = 2776793 }}</ref> No serious effects were noted either with or without treatment.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen YY, Liu SH, Nurmatov U, van Schayck OC, Kuo IC | title = Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 3 | issue = 3 | pages = CD001211 | date = March 2023 | pmid = 36912752 | pmc = 10014114 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD001211.pub4 }}</ref> Because antibiotics do speed healing in bacterial conjunctivitis, their use may be considered.<ref name=":2" /> Antibiotics are also recommended for those who wear contact lenses, are [[immunocompromised]], have disease which is thought to be due to chlamydia or gonorrhea, have a fair bit of pain, or have copious discharge.<ref name=Az2013/> Gonorrheal or chlamydial infections require both oral and topical antibiotics.<ref name=Az2013/>

The choice of antibiotic varies based on the strain or suspected strain of bacteria causing the infection. [[Fluoroquinolones]], [[sodium sulfacetamide]], or [[trimethoprim/polymyxin]] may be used, typically for 7–10 days.<ref name="Yanoff" />  Cases of meningococcal conjunctivitis can also be treated with systemic penicillin, as long as the strain is sensitive to penicillin.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

When investigated as a treatment, povidone-iodine ophthalmic solution has also been observed to have some effectiveness against bacterial and chlamydial conjunctivitis, with a possible role suggested in locations where topical antibiotics are unavailable or costly.<ref name="Am J Ophthalmol 2002">{{cite journal | vauthors = Isenberg SJ, Apt L, Valenton M, Del Signore M, Cubillan L, Labrador MA, Chan P, Berman NG | title = A controlled trial of povidone-iodine to treat infectious conjunctivitis in children | journal = American Journal of Ophthalmology | volume = 134 | issue = 5 | pages = 681–688 | date = November 2002 | pmid = 12429243 | doi = 10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01701-4 }}</ref>

=== Chemical ===
Conjunctivitis due to chemicals is treated via [[Therapeutic irrigation|irrigation]] with [[Ringer's lactate]] or [[saline (medicine)|saline solution]]. Chemical injuries, particularly alkali burns, are medical emergencies, as they can lead to severe scarring and intraocular damage. People with chemically induced conjunctivitis should not touch their eyes to avoid spreading the chemical.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conjunctivitis |url=https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/conjunctivitis?sso=y |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=American Optometric Association}}</ref>