Treatment | Pus in the eye – What is behind it?

Treatment

The therapy of a purulent eye depends on the trigger. In the context of a bacterial infection, e.g. in the form of conjunctivitis, treatment is usually with an antibiotic. This is then usually applied in the form of drops or as an ointment.

If the bacterial infection is accompanied by complications, antibiotics can be administered orally, but this is an exception. In case of an inflammation of the eyelid glands such as the barley grain, a local antibiotic treatment can also be carried out. In case of viral infections of the eye, a distinction must be made between pathogens.

In some cases, no drug intervention is required. Detailed information can be found under: How to treat a barleycorn? With others, such as the herpes virus, treatment should be carried out to prevent the virus from progressing or spreading and thus worsening.

Should a foreign body in the eye be the cause of a suppurating eye, it must of course be removed as soon as possible. It is best to consult an ophthalmologist, as he or she has the right instruments and can work under sterile conditions. In general, it is important to literally “keep your hands off” a suppurating eye.

By touching it, pathogens can enter the eye or germs can be carried from one eye and thus lead to an infection of the other eye.In case of contact with the infected eye, affected persons should absolutely pay attention to hygienic measures. Before and after contact with the eye, in addition to hand washing, hand disinfection should be carried out. Antibiotics are drugs that work specifically against individual groups of bacteria.

For this reason, an antibiotic therapy only makes sense at first if the pus in the eye is caused by a disease with bacteria. Since bacterial infections often progress faster than viral diseases, treatment with an antibiotic is usually appropriate in most cases. For example, bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated well with antibiotic eye drops. A sinusitis caused by bacteria can also be treated with antibiotics. If there are large accumulations of pus in the eye, which are in turn colonized by bacteria, antibiotic therapy should also be started.