“Can eye drops fix eye infections?”

Yes

We use antibiotic eye drops routinely to treat eye infections. Depending upon the type of infection, bacterial or viral and location, conjunctival or corneal, the treatment plan and type of drop will vary considerably. Most people that have pink eye meaning that their conjunctiva, the thin membrane one the white part of the eye, is inflamed from a viral infection. This is highly contagious but antibiotic drops are not typically required. Bacterial conjunctival infections typically produce a thick yellow or green discharge and cause the eyelids to stick together especially in the morning. This type of infection does require antibiotic drops. Infections following contact lens use especially in patients who sleep with their contact lenses should be carefully examined to determine off a corneal ulcer has formed. Contact lens infections can be sight threatening. The most important viral eye infection is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus, just as regular cold sores on the lip. These can be treated with antivirals but must be diagnosed and monitored by a doctor and can recur repeatedly, as the virus stays dormant in the corneal nerve between episodes.

There are many antibiotic eye drops available. If the correct one is chosen the vast majority of baterial infections can be resolved, but some infections are viral where antiviral medication may not be appropriate for the particular pathologic virus causing the innfection. Rarely the infection is fungal or protozeal for which there are appropriate treatments.

Depends on the diagnosis. A complete ophthalmologic exam should be performed.