After you start using the medicines prescribed for your pinkeye
(conjunctivitis), your symptoms should decrease over
the next 24 to 48 hours. If your symptoms do not improve, you may have a
problem other than pinkeye, or your medicine may need to be adjusted or
changed. See a picture of
how to use eyedrops 
or
eye ointments .
You need to talk with the doctor who prescribed the medicine if you
have symptoms that:
- Continue or get worse after 24 to 48 hours of
antibiotic treatment.
- Continue or return after antibiotic treatment
has been started or completed. This may mean you have an ongoing infection and
more treatment is needed.
If pinkeye does not improve with antibiotic eyedrops or
ointment:
- You may have a viral infection. Antibiotics will
not clear up pinkeye caused by a virus.
- Your eyes may be irritated
from the antibiotic medicine.
Oral antibiotic medicines may also be effective in relieving pinkeye
symptoms.
