How to Find a Doctor Who Can Prescribe Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim Near You [2026 Guide]

If you think you have bacterial pink eye (conjunctivitis) or a related bacterial eye infection, getting a prescription for Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim (Polytrim) is the first step. The good news: this medication is not a controlled substance, so it can be prescribed by a wide range of providers — and telehealth has made getting a prescription faster than ever.

Is Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim a Controlled Substance?

No. Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim ophthalmic solution is not a controlled substance. It is a standard prescription antibiotic with no DEA scheduling restrictions. This means any licensed prescriber can write for it, it can be phoned or electronically transmitted to any pharmacy, and it can be refilled without the restrictions that apply to scheduled drugs.

Who Can Prescribe Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim?

A wide variety of healthcare providers can prescribe this eye drop:

Ophthalmologists: Eye specialists — the go-to for complex or recurrent eye infections.

Optometrists (ODs): In all 50 states, optometrists have prescription authority for antibiotic eye drops. They are often the fastest in-person option for conjunctivitis.

Primary care physicians (PCPs): Family medicine and internal medicine physicians commonly prescribe ophthalmic antibiotics for straightforward cases of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Pediatricians: Commonly prescribe Polytrim for children — it's approved for kids as young as 2 months.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs): In most states, NPs and PAs can independently prescribe antibiotic eye drops. They're frequently seen at urgent care centers.

Urgent care providers: Urgent care clinics handle eye infections routinely and can prescribe antibiotic eye drops without requiring a specialist referral.

Can I Get a Polytrim Prescription via Telehealth?

Yes, in most cases. Many telehealth platforms — including Teladoc, MDLive, Wisp, and others — can diagnose and treat bacterial conjunctivitis remotely. During a telehealth visit, you'll typically describe your symptoms and show your eye via video. If the provider determines bacterial conjunctivitis is likely, they can send an electronic prescription for Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim directly to your pharmacy.

Telehealth is particularly useful for:

Adults and children with classic bacterial conjunctivitis symptoms (discharge, crusting, pink/red sclera)

Situations where getting a same-day in-person appointment is difficult

Parents managing children's eye infections who can't leave home easily

Patients who previously had bacterial conjunctivitis and recognize the same symptoms returning

When Should You See an Eye Doctor In Person?

Telehealth is excellent for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis, but you should seek in-person evaluation if you have any of the following:

Significant eye pain or sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Blurred vision that doesn't clear with blinking

Symptoms that worsen or don't improve after 3–4 days of antibiotic treatment

Eye injury or recent foreign body exposure

Newborns or infants under 2 months (polymyxin B/trimethoprim is not approved for this age group)

How to Find a Provider Near You

Call your PCP or pediatrician: Most can see bacterial conjunctivitis same-day or prescribe via phone if they know you.

Go to urgent care: Walk-in urgent care clinics typically treat conjunctivitis in under an hour with no appointment needed.

Use telehealth: Teladoc, MDLive, Amazon Clinic, and other telehealth platforms can often see you within 15–30 minutes and send a prescription to your pharmacy.

See an optometrist: Many optometrist offices have same-day or next-day appointment availability and are often a convenient option for adult patients.

The Bottom Line

Getting a prescription for Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim is straightforward — it's not restricted, and it can be prescribed by nearly any licensed clinician, including via telehealth. Once you have a prescription, your next step is finding a pharmacy with it in stock. Check out our guide on how to find Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim in stock near you to save time.