You wake up one morning, and your eye is red, glued shut with more yellow discharge than normal. This is a result of the common Pink Eye. It's not deadly, but it can be painful.


Steps

1. Evaluate the severity of your condition. Some people get pink eye worse than others; if it's not too bad, you can just wait it out. If it's very severe, do not attempt to open the eye. Clean it thoroughly, and go to the hospital.
2. Visit your doctor and have them examine your eye(s). If it burns, stings, or keeps leaking, tell them. They will prescribe some medication for you if they think it necessary. Usually, it's just eye drops, but they may also decide to give you antibiotics.
3. Use the medication as directed, and avoid touching the infected eye. That will mess up your eye and will make it sting.

Tips

• Most cases of pink eye usually include a discharge. You'll find either yellow wet mucus or dry crud stuck to your eyes. Make sure you have a mirror in front of you and use a cloth dipped in warm water to take off the material, and a soft tissue to dab out the discharge. Do this as soon as you notice it.
• Doctors are there to help you, so ask questions. Tell them anything you think needs to be said.
• Get plenty of sleep. During pink eye you should have that eye resting as much as possible.
• Pink eye is completely curable, and depending on its severity, it can last from 3 to 10 days.
• Thoroughly wash your hands every once in a while. During the day, you touch so many things with your hands, resulting with bacteria that can get in your eyes if you touch it.

Warnings

• Water does NOT heal this, do not try to dip the eye in water. It will make it worse.
• NEVER touch the eye with your fingers; your hands will always be dirty no matter what, and touching your eye during pink eye will just delay the healing.
• Use the medication (if taking any) as directed.
• Pink eye is contagious. It is highly recommended that you take leave from school/work so you don't spread the infection to other people.
• Don't rub your eye! Yes, pink eye is very irritating and your body is screaming at you to rub it because its itchy, but the bad bacteria on your fingers can get into the eye, making the pink eye worse. In addition, rubbing your eye can spread the bacteria that causes pink eye.
• Make sure the issue does not spread!