How many days does it usually take to recover from red eye?
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye," refers to acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, an acute infectious eye condition. Recovery from acute catarrhal conjunctivitis typically takes 5 to 14 days, depending on the severity of the illness. If symptoms are mild, patients usually recover within 5 to 7 days. However, if symptoms are severe, recovery may take 7 to 14 days. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. Detailed analysis is as follows:
If symptoms are mild and limited to slight congestion, mild pain, and photophobia, patients generally recover within 5 to 7 days when using medications such as tobramycin eye drops, levofloxacin eye drops, or ciprofloxacin hydrochloride eye drops as prescribed by a doctor. During this time, patients should maintain good personal hygiene and avoid sharing personal items to prevent cross-infection.
If symptoms are more severe, accompanied by eye swelling, intensified pain, increased discharge, and blurred vision, the recovery process may be longer, typically requiring 7 to 14 days. In addition to antibiotic eye drops, patients may also benefit from cold compresses and adjunctive antihistamine treatments such as diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablets, olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops, or emedastine difumarate eye drops to support recovery.
During treatment and recovery, patients should maintain good hygiene, wash hands frequently, avoid rubbing the eyes, get adequate rest, and reduce the use of electronic devices to promote healing.