Pink or Red Eyes in Children

Call your doctor. Your child may an infection of the eye caused by bacterial conjunctivitis.

Apply cool or warm compresses to the eye several times a day. You can do this by holding a wet washcloth over the closed eye for 5-10 minutes. Make sure you clean the washcloth in hot soapy water before using again.

You can clean the eye carefully with warm water and cotton balls to remove any discharge and keep the eyelids from sticking together. Wipe gently along the eyelashes from the inner to the outer corner of the eye once, and then throw away the cotton ball.

Try to keep your child from scratching or rubbing the eye. This may worsen the irritation or spread the infection.

Wash hands frequently to prevent the spread of the infection to your child's other eye or to another person's eyes.