Your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe eye drops or ointment. These medicines are to help reduce itching and redness. Your child may need to take antihistamines by mouth. These are to help ease allergy symptoms. You may be told to use saline solution or artificial tears to help rinse the eyes and soothe the irritation. Follow all instructions when using these medicines.
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Wash your hands well with soap and clean, running water. This is to help prevent infection.
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Remove any drainage from your child’s eye with a clean tissue. Wipe from the nose out toward the ear, to keep the eye as clean as possible.
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To remove eye crusts, wet a washcloth with warm water and place it over the eye. Wait 1 minute. Gently wipe the eye from the nose out toward the ear with the washcloth. Do this until the eye is clear. If both eyes need cleaning, use a separate cloth for each eye.
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Have your child lie down on a flat surface. A rolled-up towel or pillow may be placed under the neck so that the head is tilted back. Gently hold your child’s head, if needed.
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Using eye drops: Apply drops in the corner of the eye where the eyelid meets the nose. The drops will pool in this area. When your child blinks or opens their lids, the drops will flow into the eye. Give the exact number of drops prescribed. Be careful not to touch the eye or eyelashes with the dropper.
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Using ointment: If both drops and ointment are prescribed, give the drops first. Wait 3 minutes, and then apply the ointment. Doing this will give each medicine time to work. To apply the ointment, start by gently pulling down the lower lid. Place a thin strip of ointment along the inside of the lid. Begin at the nose and move outward. Close the lid. Wipe away excess medicine from the nose area outward. This is to keep the eyes as clean as possible. Have your child keep the eye closed for 1 or 2 minutes so the medicine has time to coat the eye. Eye ointment may cause blurry vision. This is normal. Apply ointment right before your child goes to sleep. In infants, the ointment may be easier to apply while your child is sleeping.
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Wash your hands well with soap and clean, running water again. This is to help prevent the infection from spreading.