How long does antibiotic treatment take to work for conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis can have bacterial, viral, allergic, or irritant causes. Antibiotics do not treat every cause, so a lack of improvement may mean the diagnosis or treatment needs reassessment. Crusting and redness may take time to fade even after discharge is reducing. Avoid judging recovery from redness alone.

Use drops or ointment exactly as directed, wash your hands before and after applying them, and do not share towels, pillows, cosmetics, or eye medicines. Clean discharge gently with a fresh damp pad each time. Stop wearing contact lenses until the eye has recovered and a clinician advises that lenses are suitable again. See [Conjunctivitis](/conditions/conjunctivitis/) and [Antibiotic Treatment](/treatments/medical-management/antibiotic-treatment/).

Arrange medical review if symptoms are not beginning to improve, become markedly worse, or affect both eyes severely. Seek urgent help for eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced or blurred vision that does not clear with blinking, swelling around the eye, or injury involving a contact lens. These features can signal a problem deeper than simple conjunctivitis.

Ask whether the cause appears bacterial, how long to use the medicine, when contact lenses can be restarted, and what degree of redness or discharge should prompt another examination.