Pink Eye

[Shellibelli]

My 9 month old had pink eye about 2 weeks ago. Her pediatrician gave her moxeza to treat it and it cleared up quickly. I did continue the medicine for 7 days as directed by her doctor. This past Thursday I woke up to swollen, itchy, red watery eyes. I assumed that I got pink eye from her so I started to take her medicine. My eyes are slowly getting better. They are no longer itchy and I do not have anymore discharge. However, they are still red and under my eyes look swollen. I have been on the antibiotic for over 5 days now. Should I expect them to be completely cleared up by now? I called my doctor to be seen and they can't fit me in until Friday.

[JohnHaganMD]

There is no 'typical' clearing of conjunctivitis ('pink eye is not a medical diagnosis and many things can make an eye pink). It's just like trying to predict how long a cold will last. If it doesn't respond quickly: it may not be conjunctivitis, if its bacterial it may not be susceptible to  the antibiotic and often its a virus and antibiotics don't kill virus (like they don't help viral colds).  Lastly sometimes after a while the antibiotic itself can irritate the eye.   Oral antibiotics are not appropriate for conjunctivitis so I'm hoping you are on eye drops.  If you are not cleared up by the time Friday gets here see your ophthalmologist

[robin678]

Im m pregnant and I cant take no medicine in my eye is swollen red and watery and it hurt so what can I do if I cant take no medicine for it so what can I do

[JohnHaganMD]

That is NOT true. Pregnant women can take many eye drops. You need to call your obstetrician and go in for her/him to see you, confirm the diagnosis and they have a list of "safe" drops for pregnant women. Or you can go in to see and Eye MD ophthalmologist and they have a list also.

[JohnHaganMD]

No but its a rather common reaction to medications.

[Shellibelli]

Thank you. Is it normal to have swelling on my face underneath my eyes from this infection?

[JohnHaganMD]

Resolution by now only occurs if 1. you have a bacteria not a virus  2. the bacteria is susceptible to moxeza  3. you do not develop a sensitivity or allergy to the medicine or its preservatives.   I can't tell that not looking at the eye. If you are no longer getting pus out of the eye and you have taken for at least 5 days you could consider stopping the drops and using warm compresses and preservative free artificial tears.