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 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 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 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 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 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.

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. Find out how to get rid of pink eye fast.

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.

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