Treatment of the pregnant mother for sexually-transmitted diseases will prevent conjunctivitis in the neonate. If the mother's infection has not been recognized, keep in mind that prophylactic eye drops put into the infant's eyes immediately after birth help prevent many infections, and these drops are used routinely for all births.

A cesearean section is recommended when the mother has active herpes lesions at the time of delivery. Antibiotics, given intravenously, may be given to infants delivered of mothers with untreated gonorrhea. However, antibiotic eye drops may not prevent Chlamydial conjunctivitis.