Primary & Urgent Care
Pink Eye & Ear Infection Treatment — Online, Same Day
Red, crusty eyes? Ear pain, pressure, or muffled hearing? A licensed provider can evaluate what you are dealing with, recommend the right treatment, and send a prescription to your pharmacy if needed. No waiting room, no urgent care copay.
Start a VisitAbout these conditions
👁️ Eye and ear conditions — what you need to know
Pink eye and ear infections are among the most common reasons people visit urgent care. They are uncomfortable, often contagious, and — depending on the cause — may or may not need a prescription to resolve. Getting the right evaluation matters, because bacterial infections generally require treatment while viral ones typically do not, and prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed does not speed recovery and contributes to resistance.
Many cases of pink eye and selected ear conditions can be appropriately evaluated through telehealth when the history is consistent and no warning signs are present. A licensed provider can review your symptoms, determine the most likely cause, and prescribe appropriate treatment — including antibiotic eye drops or oral antibiotics — if warranted.
What we treat in this category
Pink eye (conjunctivitis), bacterial and viral eye infections, styes, ear infections (acute otitis media), swimmer's ear (otitis externa), and ear pain. Evaluated by a licensed provider who helps determine the cause and whether prescription treatment is appropriate.
The conditions in this category:
- →👁️ Pink eye (conjunctivitis). Inflammation of the conjunctiva — the thin tissue lining the whites of the eye and inner eyelids. Can be viral (most common), bacterial, or allergic. Causes redness, discharge, and crusting. Viral pink eye is often highly contagious and usually resolves on its own. Bacterial pink eye typically produces thicker discharge and may benefit from antibiotic eye drops.
- →👁️ Eye infections (other). Infections affecting the eyelid or eye surface beyond conjunctivitis, including styes (hordeolum) — painful, pimple-like bumps on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland or bacterial infection. Most styes resolve without treatment; some benefit from warm compresses or antibiotic ointment.
- →👂 Ear infection — middle ear (acute otitis media). The most common type of ear infection, particularly in children, though adults get them too. Caused by bacteria or viruses that infect the middle ear, often following a cold or upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include ear pain, pressure, muffled hearing, and sometimes fever.
- →👂 Swimmer's ear (otitis externa). An infection of the outer ear canal, typically caused by water that remains in the ear after swimming or bathing — creating a moist environment where bacteria thrive. Causes significant ear pain (especially when the outer ear is touched), itching, discharge, and swelling of the ear canal. Treated with antibiotic ear drops rather than oral antibiotics. Keeping the ear canal dry during treatment is essential for healing.
- →👂 Ear pain without infection. Ear pain can result from eustachian tube dysfunction, pressure changes (from flying or altitude), earwax buildup, or referred pain from the jaw or throat. A provider can help distinguish these from true infection.
When to skip telehealth and seek in-person or emergency care
Go in person immediately for: severe eye pain or sudden vision changes or vision loss; significant eye injury or chemical exposure (flush immediately with water and go to an ER); eye swelling extending beyond the eyelid or around the orbit; high fever with ear symptoms in infants under 6 months; ear discharge that is bloody or foul-smelling; sudden hearing loss; or symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, or facial weakness. These require in-person evaluation.
Signs you may need treatment
📋 Recognizing your symptoms
The type of discharge, which eye or ear is affected, and what other symptoms are present all help your provider determine the cause and whether you need prescription treatment.
Pink eye — how to tell the types apart:
| Type | Key symptoms | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Viral conjunctivitis | Red, watery eyes; clear or thin discharge; gritty feeling; often starts in one eye and spreads to the other | Most common type; often accompanies a cold or upper respiratory infection; highly contagious; resolves without antibiotics in 1–2 weeks |
| Bacterial conjunctivitis | Thick yellow or green discharge; significant crusting (eyes stuck shut in the morning); may affect one or both eyes | Less common than viral; thick yellow or green discharge and significant eyelid crusting make bacterial more likely; responds to antibiotic eye drops. Note: prominent eye pain or fever should prompt evaluation for a more serious condition beyond conjunctivitis |
| Allergic conjunctivitis | Intense itching, redness, and watering; usually both eyes; often with sneezing or runny nose | Not contagious; triggered by pollen, pet dander, dust; seasonal pattern; treated with antihistamine eye drops |
| Stye (hordeolum) | Painful red lump on or inside the eyelid; may look like a pimple; eyelid swelling; tenderness to touch | Localized to the eyelid rather than the eye surface; warm compresses are first-line; antibiotic ointment may help if not resolving |
Ear conditions — how to tell them apart:
| Type | Key symptoms | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Middle ear infection (otitis media) | Deep ear pain; pressure or fullness in the ear; muffled hearing; fever; often follows a cold or upper respiratory infection | Pain is deep inside the ear; pulling on the outer ear does not worsen pain; common in children but occurs in adults |
| Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) | Pain in the outer ear canal, especially when the ear or jaw is moved; itching inside the ear; clear or pus-like discharge; ear canal may appear swollen | Pulling on the outer ear (the tragus) significantly worsens pain — a key distinguishing sign; linked to water exposure; treated with ear drops, not oral antibiotics |
| Eustachian tube dysfunction | Ear fullness or pressure; muffled hearing; popping or crackling sounds; mild discomfort; no significant pain or fever | Often caused by congestion, altitude change, or allergies; not an infection; often improves as congestion resolves; your provider may recommend nasal corticosteroids or allergy treatment depending on the cause |
⚠️ Seek in-person or emergency care immediately if you have:
Sudden vision loss or significant changes in vision; severe eye pain; eye injury or chemical splash (flush immediately, go to ER); swelling around the eye orbit beyond the eyelid; high fever with ear pain in infants under 6 months; bloody or foul-smelling discharge from the ear; sudden hearing loss; or vertigo, dizziness, or facial weakness. These require immediate in-person evaluation.
Not sure what you have or whether you need treatment? A licensed provider can evaluate your symptoms today.
Start a VisitHow online care can help
💻 Eye and ear care online — what works and what it cannot replace
Pink eye is one of the most telehealth-friendly conditions there is. A provider can assess the type of discharge, the pattern of symptoms, and associated findings through a clinical conversation — and prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment when appropriate. Ear infections can also be evaluated through telehealth in selected cases, particularly when the clinical picture is consistent and no warning signs are present. Visualization of the eardrum remains the diagnostic standard for ear infections, so in-person evaluation may be recommended when the picture is unclear.
The key limitation with ear infections is that a definitive diagnosis classically requires looking inside the ear with an otoscope. If your symptom picture is clear, a provider can treat clinically. If there is uncertainty — particularly in young children — in-person evaluation may be recommended.
| What online care can do | What it cannot replace |
|---|---|
| Evaluate symptom pattern to distinguish viral, bacterial, or allergic pink eye | Direct otoscope exam of the ear canal and eardrum |
| Prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis | In-person evaluation for young children with ear infections (under age 2) |
| Prescribe antihistamine eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis | Evaluation for sudden vision changes, eye injury, or orbital swelling |
| Prescribe oral antibiotics for bacterial middle ear infections | Specialist care (ophthalmology, ENT) for complex or recurrent cases |
| Prescribe antibiotic ear drops for swimmer's ear (otitis externa) | Evaluation for sudden hearing loss, vertigo, or facial weakness |
| Recommend appropriate OTC symptom relief and home care | Foreign body removal from the eye or ear |
- →⏰ No urgent care wait. Same-day appointments. Describe your symptoms today and hear from a provider today.
- →🏪 Your prescription goes to your local pharmacy. Antibiotic eye drops or ear drops filled at the pharmacy you already use. No mail-order required.
- →💰 No monthly subscription. A flat fee per visit. No required membership to access our telehealth services.
- →🩺 A real clinical evaluation. A licensed provider reviews your intake and makes an individualized determination — not an automated algorithm.
★★★★★ Patient review
"Woke up with my eye completely crusted shut and knew right away it was pink eye. I did a visit before my kids even left for school. My provider evaluated my symptoms, explained exactly what was going on, and had a treatment plan ready within the hour. Would have spent my whole morning at urgent care otherwise."
Patient, MyPhysician360
Treatment options
💊 How these conditions are treated
Treatment depends entirely on the cause. The most important distinction in both eye and ear conditions is viral versus bacterial — because antibiotics treat bacterial infections only. Getting that distinction right is what a provider visit is for.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- →Viral conjunctivitis — supportive care. The most common type of pink eye. Antibiotic eye drops do not treat viral infections and are not appropriate. Treatment is supportive: warm or cool compresses several times daily, artificial tears for comfort, and good hygiene to prevent spreading. Most cases resolve on their own within 7 to 14 days. Your provider will not prescribe antibiotics for viral pink eye, and that is the right call.
- →Bacterial conjunctivitis — antibiotic eye drops. Less common than viral but responds well to treatment. Antibiotic eye drops (such as erythromycin ointment, polymyxin B/trimethoprim drops, or fluoroquinolone drops) are effective and typically produce noticeable improvement within 2 to 3 days. Uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis is often self-limited, but antibiotic eye drops may shorten symptom duration and can reduce transmission in some patients.
- →Allergic conjunctivitis — antihistamine eye drops. Not contagious and not infectious. Treated with antihistamine eye drops (such as ketotifen, available over the counter, or prescription options). Avoiding the allergen and using cold compresses also help. Oral antihistamines may provide additional relief.
- →Stye — warm compresses, sometimes antibiotic ointment. The first-line treatment is warm compresses applied 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times daily. This helps the stye drain on its own. Antibiotic ointment may be recommended if the stye is not improving or shows signs of spreading infection. Never squeeze or pop a stye — this increases infection risk. Most styes resolve within 1 to 2 weeks. If a stye becomes increasingly swollen, spreads into the surrounding eyelid, or is accompanied by fever, seek in-person evaluation — these signs may indicate preseptal cellulitis, which requires prompt treatment.
A note on antibiotic eye drops for pink eye
Most cases of pink eye are viral and do not respond to antibiotic eye drops. If your provider does not prescribe antibiotic drops, that is a clinical decision — not an oversight. Prescribing antibiotics when they are not indicated does not help and contributes to resistance. If your symptom picture suggests bacterial infection (thick pus or significant crusting), your provider will prescribe appropriate treatment.
Ear infections
- →Middle ear infection (otitis media) — watchful waiting or antibiotics. Many middle ear infections in adults and older children are caused by viruses or resolve without antibiotics. Current guidelines support a watchful waiting approach for mild cases in patients 2 years and older. When bacterial acute otitis media is suspected based on symptoms, duration, and clinical judgment, oral antibiotics are appropriate. Amoxicillin is typically first-line. OTC pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) are important for comfort regardless of whether antibiotics are prescribed.
- →Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) — antibiotic ear drops. Treated with antibiotic ear drops rather than oral antibiotics, because the infection is in the outer ear canal and topical treatment is more effective and avoids systemic side effects. Commonly prescribed options include ofloxacin or neomycin/polymyxin B/hydrocortisone combination drops. Keeping the ear dry during treatment is essential. Improvement is typically seen within 3 to 5 days.
- →Eustachian tube dysfunction — symptom management and time. Not an infection. Symptoms often improve as congestion resolves. Depending on the underlying cause, your provider may recommend nasal corticosteroids, allergy treatment, or short-term symptom management. The Valsalva maneuver (gently pinching the nose while attempting to blow) can help equalize pressure.
When will I start feeling better?
Bacterial pink eye with antibiotic drops: improvement usually within 2 to 3 days; full resolution in 5 to 7 days. Viral pink eye: 7 to 14 days, resolving without treatment. Stye: 1 to 2 weeks with consistent warm compresses. Ear infection with antibiotics: ear pain usually improves within 24 to 48 hours; complete the full antibiotic course even if you feel better. Swimmer's ear with antibiotic drops: 3 to 5 days. If you are not improving along these timelines, follow up with your provider.
Not sure if you need antibiotic drops or just supportive care? A licensed provider can figure that out with you today.
Start a VisitWhat to expect
🗓️ Your visit, start to finish
Here is what happens from the moment you start your visit to when you have a treatment plan in hand.
|
1
Describe your symptoms
Complete a short intake covering your eye or ear symptoms, which side is affected, when it started, what the discharge looks like, any associated symptoms (cold, fever, congestion), medications, and allergies. About 5 minutes. |
2
Meet with your provider
You speak with a licensed provider who reviews your intake, asks follow-up questions, assesses the most likely cause, and determines whether prescription treatment is appropriate. This is a real clinical evaluation — not an automated questionnaire. |
3
Receive your treatment plan
Your provider explains the likely diagnosis and recommended approach. If prescription medication is appropriate — antibiotic eye drops, antibiotic ear drops, or oral antibiotics — it may be sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy the same day. If supportive care is right for you, your provider explains exactly what to do. |
4
Follow up if needed
Pink eye not improving after 3 to 4 days on antibiotic drops, ear pain worsening after 48 hours on antibiotics, or symptoms that are spreading or getting significantly worse all warrant a follow-up visit or in-person evaluation. |
Contact lens wearers — important note
If you develop pink eye symptoms and wear contact lenses, stop wearing your contacts immediately. Contact lens use during conjunctivitis significantly increases the risk of a more serious corneal infection. Contact lens wearers with red eye are more likely to require in-person evaluation because of this elevated risk. Switch to glasses until symptoms have fully resolved and your provider clears you to resume lens wear. Let your provider know you wear contacts during your intake — it affects how your symptoms are evaluated and which antibiotic drops may be appropriate.
Supporting your treatment
🏠 What to do while you recover
Whether or not you are prescribed medication, these steps support recovery and help prevent spreading these conditions to others.
For pink eye and eye infections:
- →Apply antibiotic eye drops or ointment exactly as prescribed — do not stop early because your eye looks better. Complete the full course.
- →Use a clean, warm, damp cloth to gently wipe discharge and crusting from the affected eye, wiping from the inner corner outward. Use a fresh cloth or a separate area of the cloth for each wipe.
- →Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching your eyes or applying drops. Pink eye spreads easily through hand-to-eye contact.
- →Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. This worsens irritation and spreads the infection to the other eye or to other people.
- →Do not share towels, pillowcases, washcloths, or eye makeup. Change your pillowcase daily while symptomatic.
- →Throw away any eye makeup (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow) used in the days before symptoms started. Do not reuse it after recovery.
- →If you wear contact lenses, throw away any disposable lenses used immediately before symptoms began. Thoroughly disinfect reusable lenses and storage cases before wearing them again — or replace them.
- →Follow your school, employer, or childcare facility's policies regarding return after conjunctivitis. Good hand hygiene and avoiding touching your eyes are important regardless of setting or cause.
- →Artificial tears can help soothe irritation regardless of the type of pink eye. Avoid redness-reducing eye drops (like Visine) — they do not treat infection and can worsen irritation over time.
For ear infections:
- →Apply antibiotic ear drops as prescribed. Warm the bottle in your hand for a few minutes before use — cold drops can cause dizziness. For swimmer's ear, gently pull the outer ear backward and upward to straighten the ear canal before instilling drops, then keep your head tilted for a minute or two to allow the drops to reach the infection.
- →Take OTC pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) as directed for ear pain. These are important for comfort and do not interfere with antibiotic treatment.
- →Keep water out of an infected ear. Use a cotton ball lightly coated in petroleum jelly when showering. Avoid swimming until the infection has fully resolved and your provider clears you.
- →Do not insert cotton swabs, fingers, or any objects into the ear canal. This pushes bacteria deeper and worsens swimmer's ear.
- →Applying a warm (not hot) compress or heating pad on a low setting over the affected ear can help relieve pain.
- →If you are on oral antibiotics for an ear infection, take them with food and complete the full course — typically 5 to 10 days. Do not stop early even if pain improves.
⚠️ Contact your provider or seek in-person care if:
- Pink eye is not improving after 3 to 4 days of antibiotic drops
- Eye pain worsens significantly, or vision changes at any point
- Ear pain worsens or does not improve within 48 to 72 hours of starting antibiotics
- Fever develops or worsens
- Discharge from the ear becomes bloody or foul-smelling
- Symptoms spread to the other eye or other ear
- A child under 2 with ear symptoms is not improving or gets worse — in-person evaluation is important for this age group
Care connected to your pharmacy
🏪 Your prescription. Your pharmacy. Same day.
Pharmacies are the front door of healthcare in most communities. We built MyPhysician360 to respect that. When treatment is appropriate, your prescription goes to the pharmacy you already trust, filled by the pharmacist who already knows you.
Already at the pharmacy asking about eye drops or ear drops? Many of our partner pharmacies have a MyPhysician360 QR code right at the counter. Start your visit from the aisle, and your prescription may be ready before you leave.
- ✓Prescription sent electronically to your pharmacy same day your visit ends
- ✓Pick up at your neighborhood pharmacy or any major chain
- ✓Home delivery available by request at many local pharmacies
- ✓No required memberships to access our telehealth services
- ✓If we cannot treat you online, you will not be charged
Frequently asked questions
❓ Questions about pink eye and ear infection treatment online
Straight answers to what patients ask most before their first visit.
Can I get prescription eye drops for pink eye through telehealth?
Yes, when antibiotic eye drops are clinically appropriate. A licensed provider can prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis through a telehealth visit. However, most pink eye is viral — and antibiotic drops do not treat viral infections. Your provider will evaluate your specific symptom picture to determine which type you have and whether a prescription is the right call. If your pink eye is viral, your provider will explain what to do at home to manage symptoms and speed recovery.
How do I know if my pink eye is viral or bacterial?
The most reliable distinguishing signs: viral pink eye tends to produce watery or thin discharge, often follows a cold, and may start in one eye before spreading to the other. Bacterial pink eye typically produces thicker, more purulent (pus-like) yellow or green discharge and causes significant crusting overnight. In reality, the two can overlap and are often difficult to distinguish definitively without examination. Notable eye pain or fever alongside eye symptoms should prompt evaluation for a more serious condition. When in doubt, a provider visit helps — and avoids unnecessary antibiotic use if the infection is viral. Most uncomplicated conjunctivitis does not require eye cultures or imaging; diagnosis is usually based on history and symptom pattern.
Do I need antibiotics for an ear infection?
Not always. Many middle ear infections — particularly in adults and children over 2 — are caused by viruses or resolve on their own without antibiotics. Current clinical guidelines support watchful waiting for mild cases in patients 2 years and older who do not have a high fever or severe symptoms. OTC pain relievers are important for comfort in all cases. When pain is severe, fever is present, symptoms are worsening, or the patient is under 2 years old, antibiotic treatment is typically appropriate. Your provider makes this determination based on your specific clinical picture.
What is the difference between a middle ear infection and swimmer's ear?
The easiest way to tell them apart: pull on your outer ear. If that significantly worsens the pain, it is most likely swimmer's ear (otitis externa) — an infection of the outer ear canal, typically from water exposure. Middle ear infections (otitis media) cause deep pain inside the ear, and pulling the outer ear does not change the pain. The treatments are also different: swimmer's ear is treated with antibiotic ear drops (not oral antibiotics), while bacterial middle ear infections are treated with oral antibiotics. Knowing which one you have is important for getting the right treatment.
Is pink eye contagious? When can I go back to work or school?
Viral and bacterial pink eye are both contagious and spread easily through direct contact with eye discharge or contaminated surfaces. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. Most schools and workplaces ask that people with infectious pink eye stay home until discharge has stopped or they have been on antibiotic drops for at least 24 hours (for bacterial conjunctivitis). Your provider can advise you on when it is appropriate to return based on your specific situation and your school or employer's policy.
My child has ear pain. Can you treat children through telehealth?
Our providers can evaluate ear symptoms in children. However, for children under 2 years old with ear pain, in-person evaluation is strongly preferred — this age group has a higher risk of complications and definitive diagnosis typically requires examining the eardrum with an otoscope. For children 2 and older with mild symptoms, telehealth evaluation is more appropriate. Your provider will let you know during the intake if an in-person visit is the right call for your child.
Can I use over-the-counter eye drops for pink eye?
Some OTC products can help with comfort but none cure the infection. Artificial tears can soothe irritation, dryness, and grittiness for any type of pink eye. Ketotifen (OTC antihistamine eye drops, sold as Zaditor or Alaway) can help relieve allergic conjunctivitis symptoms. Avoid redness-reducing drops like Visine — they temporarily constrict blood vessels but do not treat the infection and can actually worsen irritation over time. If you have bacterial pink eye, you need prescription antibiotic drops; OTC products will not clear the infection.
What antibiotic eye drops are commonly prescribed for pink eye?
Commonly prescribed antibiotic eye drops for bacterial conjunctivitis include polymyxin B/trimethoprim (Polytrim), erythromycin ointment, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin. The choice depends on the patient's age, allergy history, contact lens use, and severity. Contact lens wearers are often treated differently because of increased concern for Pseudomonas infection, which requires broader antibiotic coverage — another reason it is important to tell your provider you wear contacts. Your provider selects the most appropriate option based on your individual situation.
What antibiotic is used for ear infections?
For middle ear infections (otitis media), amoxicillin is the most commonly prescribed first-line antibiotic for patients without penicillin allergy. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) may be used when amoxicillin alone is insufficient or the infection follows a recent antibiotic course. For swimmer's ear (otitis externa), antibiotic ear drops — such as ofloxacin otic solution or neomycin/polymyxin B/hydrocortisone drops — are used instead of oral antibiotics. Your provider selects the right antibiotic based on the type of ear infection, your age, allergy history, and other clinical factors.
How long is pink eye contagious?
Viral pink eye remains contagious as long as discharge is present — typically the full 7 to 14 days of the illness. Bacterial pink eye is contagious until the discharge resolves, or generally for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic eye drops. Strict hand hygiene and avoiding touching your eyes are the most important steps to prevent spreading it to others or to your other eye.
Is this visit HSA or FSA eligible?
Yes. MyPhysician360 consultations are HSA and FSA eligible. Your visit cost is reimbursable through your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, making this accessible through your existing health benefits even without insurance.
Helpful resources
📚 Learn more
Your provider may reference these educational materials during your visit. Links go straight to the source.
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👁️ Patient education Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) — Overview, Causes, and Treatment Mayo Clinic Visit Mayo Clinic → |
👂 Patient education Ear Infection (Otitis Media) — Overview and Treatment Mayo Clinic Visit Mayo Clinic → |
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🔬 Clinical guidance Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) — Information for Clinicians and Patients CDC Visit CDC → |
🔬 Clinical guidance Ear Infection Basics and Antibiotic Use CDC Visit CDC → |
Red eye or ear pain? Let's get you taken care of.
Answer a few questions, meet with a licensed provider same day, and get a personalized treatment plan. No required membership. Available in most states. Your prescription, if appropriate, goes straight to your pharmacy.
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Medical disclaimer & sources: The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment of eye and ear conditions requires clinical evaluation by a licensed provider. Not all conditions are appropriate for telehealth management. Patients with sudden vision loss, significant eye pain, eye injury, orbital swelling, sudden hearing loss, vertigo, or facial weakness should seek in-person or emergency care immediately. Children under 2 years old with ear symptoms should be evaluated in person. Content on this page reflects current clinical guidance from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the CDC. Antibiotic prescribing is determined by a licensed provider on a case-by-case basis. MyPhysician360 services are available in most states. Services are not currently available in Mississippi or Alaska.