Best Antibiotic Eye Drops for Bacterial Eye Infections

What is an eye infection?

Eye infections are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The most common type of eye infection is conjunctivitis (pink eye), which is an infection of the conjunctiva or outer part of the eye. Antibiotic eye drops can be used to treat a bacterial eye infection, but they do not work for other types of eye infections, such as viral or fungal infections. Please continue reading to learn about some of the best antibiotic eye drops for bacterial infections.

What are the common types of eye infections?

There are several different types of eye infections that you can catch. Identifying the type and cause of your eye infection is crucial to ensure you get the right treatment. Antibiotics can help to treat some but not all eye infections. Find out more about some common eye infections and whether antibiotic use is indicated for their treatment.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Contrary to popular belief, this condition is not an infection. This inflammatory response to an allergen is part of a larger reaction in people with seasonal allergies. People with allergic conjunctivitis can experience eye redness, swelling, itching, and increased tearing. Prescribing antibiotics does not help conjunctivitis caused by allergies. This condition is best treated with a cold compress, anti-allergy eye drops, and/or oral antihistamines.

Viral Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis or “pink eye” is a common condition. It is an infection and inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eye. The most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis is viruses, with up to 90% of cases caused by adenovirus. Less commonly, the cause is herpes simplex virus or zoster virus. Viral conjunctivitis is more common in adult patients than in children. It is a self-limiting condition, and there is no specific treatment for it. Cold compress, topical antihistamines, and artificial tears can be used to reduce discomfort.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

This condition is caused by bacteria, as the name suggests. It is less common than viral conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs more often in children than adults. Antibiotic eye drops can help treat this condition.

Infectious keratitis

Infectious keratitis is an emergency condition that requires medical attention as it can progress quickly. This condition is an infection of the cornea, the transparent covering of the ocular surface (of the iris and the pupil). Keratitis can be bacterial or viral, with bacteria being the most common culprits. If left untreated, keratitis can result in vision loss. Treatment for this type of infection will depend on what causes it. Inappropriate use of contact lenses is one of the leading causes of bacterial keratitis.

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How do you know if an eye infection is viral or bacterial?

Both viral and bacterial eye infections can cause the following symptoms: Eye pain, redness, swelling, and light sensitivity.

However, green-yellow pus or watery discharge are common symptoms of acute bacterial conjunctivitis (bacterial eye infection).

On the other hand, a history of cold sores or shingles or the presence of a herpes rash is a strong clue that an eye infection may be due to herpes simplex or zoster virus. Your doctor will examine the affected eye(s) and decide on the appropriate treatment.

How do I know if my conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial?

The only way to know for sure if your conjunctivitis (pink eye) is viral or bacterial is to see a doctor. Generally speaking, bacterial conjunctivitis causes a yellow or green sticky discharge from the eyes around the clock, itching, and eyelid swelling. On the other hand, viral conjunctivitis tends to cause a watery discharge during the daytime and a sticky discharge overnight accompanied by swollen eyelids. Learn quick and effective ways to treat pink eye.

If you are not sure if you have bacterial vs viral conjunctivitis, do not use a prescription medication such as antibiotic eye drops without consulting your healthcare provider. These drugs can have serious side effects and cause more health problems if they are overused or used incorrectly. You should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your doctor will assess which type of conjunctivitis you have and prescribe the correct type and dose of antibiotic eye drops if needed.

What are the symptoms of a bacterial eye infection?

Symptoms of a bacterial eye infection include eye pain, redness, swelling, watering, light sensitivity, and drainage of yellow-green pus.

Note: If you suspect you have any type of eye infection, be sure to throw out old makeup, do not wear contacts, and throw away the old pair to prevent further infection.

What are the causes of a bacterial eye infection?

Eye infections can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites entering your eye. Infections can commonly occur from wearing contact lenses to bed or wearing contact lenses that are not clean. Eye injuries can also create pathways for bacteria to enter the eye.

What medications are used to treat bacterial eye infections?

Antibiotics are the first-line therapy for bacterial conjunctivitis. These drugs work by preventing bacterial DNA replication and killing infection-causing bacteria.

Can you buy antibiotic eye drops over the counter?

You cannot buy antibiotic eye drops over the counter. They are available only with a doctor’s prescription. However, you can buy some other medications over the counter to improve symptoms of eye infections. For example, artificial tears for eye irritation, a topical antihistamine (antihistamine eye drops) to relieve itching, and a topical/oral analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief.

What are the best antibiotic drops for bacterial conjunctivitis?

Various antibiotic eye drops are available to treat bacterial eye infections. Healthcare providers typically choose broad-spectrum antibiotics like ophthalmic eye drops that are effective against many different types of bacteria, such as Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, typical bacteria, and atypical bacteria.

Topical antibiotics are preferred over oral antibiotics to treat bacterial eye infections because they deliver the drug directly to the site of the infection. They are available as eye drops or ophthalmic ointments to apply to the affected eye.

In severe cases of bacterial conjunctivitis with pus and eye inflammation, healthcare providers may obtain a culture and sensitivity test. This helps to identify the infection-causing bacteria and guide the choice of antibiotic.

Some of the antibiotic eye drop treatment options for bacterial eye infections include:

Besifloxacin ophthalmic (Besivance)
Gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution (Zymaxid)
Moxifloxacin ophthalmic (Vigamox, Moxeza)
Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic (Ciloxan)
Levofloxacin ophthalmic (Quixin, Iquix)
Ofloxacin ophthalmic (Ocuflox)
Tobramycin ophthalmic (Tobrex)
Gentamicin (Gentak, Garamycin)
Trimethoprim / polymyxin B / gramicidin (Neosporin Ophthalmic Solution)
Neomycin / polymyxin B / bacitracin (Neo-Polycin)
Azithromycin ophthalmic (Aza-Site)
Erythromycin ophthalmic (Ilotycin)
Bacitracin ophthalmic (AK-Tracin, Ocu-Tracin)

Note: Antibiotic eye drops and ointments are also used to treat other conditions, such as bacterial corneal ulcers.

Can mild bacterial conjunctivitis go away on its own?

Mild bacterial conjunctivitis can go away on its own. Most cases of bacterial conjunctivitis are self-limited, meaning it has limited duration. However, antibiotic eye drops can help to shorten the duration of the illness and prevent the spread of the infection.

Do antibacterial eye drops work?

Antibacterial medicated eye drops can only treat a bacterial infection in the eye. They do not work for other types of eye infections, such as viral conjunctivitis (infections caused by viruses), allergic conjunctivitis (caused by an allergic reaction to environmental allergens like pollen and animal dander), or fungal eye infections that can develop due to improper use of contact lenses. These types of eye infections require other treatments and eye drops.

To ensure your antibiotic eye drops work well and treat bacterial infections completely, you should comply with the following:

Do not use someone else’s prescription antibiotic eye drops, and do not keep unused antibiotic eye drops for later use because antibiotic eye drops are only effective against bacterial eye infections, not viral or fungal infections. Inappropriate use of antibiotics of any form (topical, oral) makes it harder to treat an infection later.
Make sure you understand how to apply the antibiotic eye drops. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure about the proper use of the topical medicine.
Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully. Your healthcare provider may ask you to start antibiotic eye drops at a higher dosing frequency, for example, every 2 hours for 1-2 days, and then decrease the dosing frequency to 4 times a day for the next 5-7 days.
Finish the full course of antibiotic treatment as prescribed by your primary care physician or eye doctor. Failure to do so can result in incomplete treatment of your bacterial conjunctivitis and lead to bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Can you wear contact lenses while using antibiotic eye drops?

In general, medicated eye drops, including antibiotic drops, should not be used with contact lenses as they can cause eye redness and irritation. Ask your doctor for specific instructions.