Can regular table salt be used to wash away conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis—commonly known as “pink eye”—is a condition familiar to nearly everyone. Many people around us have experienced it; medically, it is termed bacterial conjunctivitis. It has a certain incubation period, and when it occurs, patients typically present with redness, pain, and discharge from the eyes. So, can ordinary table salt be used to rinse the eyes in cases of pink eye?

Can ordinary table salt be used to rinse the eyes in cases of pink eye?

No, ordinary table salt must not be used to rinse the eyes in cases of pink eye. While saline rinsing is appropriate for pink eye, only sterile physiological saline—specifically, the 0.9% sodium chloride injection solution commonly used in clinical practice—should be employed. Pink eye is typically characterized by increased ocular discharge; therefore, non-irritating irrigating solutions such as a 3% boric acid solution or 0.9% sodium chloride injection solution may be used to flush the conjunctival sac. During irrigation, care must be taken to avoid damaging the corneal epithelium, and the irrigation fluid must not flow into the contralateral (opposite) eye to prevent cross-infection.

Additionally, topical antibiotic eye drops or ointments to which the causative bacteria are sensitive should be selected—for example, levofloxacin hydrochloride eye drops or tobramycin eye drops—to control local inflammation. Recovery from this condition usually takes less than three weeks; however, more severe cases may require a longer duration. Upon diagnosis of pink eye, hands must be thoroughly washed, rubbing the eyes with unwashed hands must be strictly avoided, and fingernails should be kept trimmed.

If symptoms suggestive of this condition appear in daily life, prompt medical evaluation and active cooperation with prescribed treatment are essential. We hope this response proves helpful to you.