I've heard pink eye and cherry eye used interchangeably, but they are different and the treatments are different. It sounds like you've seen cherry eye before. Does this look the same as it did before? Can you tell me what the eye looks like? Is this the same eye that had cherry eye before?
Pink eye is conjunctivitis. The membranes around the eye are redder than normal and inflamed.
Cherry eye is the prolapse of a gland normally located under the nictitans membrane (third eyelid) at the inside corner of the eye. In cherry eye the gland protrude above the membrane. Surgery usually puts the gland back in position, but sometimes the gland is removed. Do you know which was done?
You may use the eye ointment you have to keep the eye moist so long as it hasn't been open for too long (more than 3-6 months). If something is protruding from the nictitans membrane, you should take your girl to the vet. Cherry eye is seen in older dogs, but is most common in young ones. When it occurs in adults, it can be confused with some types of tumors particularly adenomas and adenocarcinomas.These can be treated if done before the mass gets big.
Let me know if you have follow up questions.
Veterinarian
30 years as owner of a mobile practice treating dogs, cats, horses and other pets.