

Check the ingredient list to make sure they don’t contain preservatives or phosphates, which can be harmful to your eyes.ĭry eyes can also increase your risk for an eye infection. They contain lubricants like mineral oil or white petrolatum. SYSTANE Nighttime lubricant eye ointment.Bausch + Lomb Soothe lubricant eye ointment.OTC gels and ointments are recommended for overnight use. This syndrome occurs from a lack of tears, or poor-quality tears.Įye drops are the most common treatment for dry eyes. Keep in mind that ointments aren’t always the first line of treatment for eye infections.ĭepending on the type of infection, severity, and your age, your doctor may start with other treatments first.Īs the name suggests, dry eyes refer to poorly lubricated eyes. In many cases, eye infections clear on their own. The drug’s packaging should clearly state that it’s for ophthalmic (eye) use. They’re not the same as the prescription ointments with the same name that are meant for eye infections. Some OTC ointments, like Neosporin and Polysporin, are only meant to be used on your skin. However, other forms of the same antibiotics may be available over the counter (OTC).

These drugs generally require a prescription. It may be used in children older than 2 years. This aminoglycoside antibiotic is suitable for most bacterial eye infections. This combination antibiotic is prescribed for most bacterial eye infections. Neosporin is a combination antibiotic that treats conjunctivitis, keratitis, and blepharitis in adults. Polymyxin B-neomycin-bacitracin (Neosporin).This aminoglycoside antibiotic treats blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and other bacterial eye infections. A quinolone antibiotic used for many bacterial eye infections, ciprofloxacin may be suitable for children older than 2 years. Newborns may receive this drug to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis. A macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin treats eye infections such as conjunctivitis in adults. This polypeptide antibiotic treats bacterial eye infections in adults. Some of the most common ointments used to treat bacterial eye infections include:

They won’t work on viral pink eye, which is more common.ĭoctors usually prescribe eye ointments for overnight use. In the case of pink eye, for example, antibiotic eye ointments are only used to treat bacterial pink eye. As a result, they’re only effective in treating eye infections caused by bacteria. One exception is acyclovir, an antiviral ointment used to treat eye infections caused by the herpes simplex virus.Īntibiotic eye ointments work by targeting and killing bacteria. Most eye ointments for infections are antibiotics. Fungi, parasites, and sexually transmitted infections can cause other eye infections. For instance, viruses, bacteria, and allergies can cause pink eye, as well as exposure to chemicals, such as chlorine. The infections listed above have many possible causes. Uveitis affects the middle layer of the eye, known as the uvea.

This infection affects the eyelid and is caused by blocked oil glands in the eyelash follicles. It’s most common among people who wear contact lenses. This common condition affects the cornea. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is a common and highly contagious eye infection. Infections can leave your eyes feeling sore, red, itchy, or swollen.
