Chloramphenicol is administered into the eye to treat a type of eye infection called bacterial conjunctivitis which can be caused by various types of bacteria putting the medicine directly into the eye allows the chloramphenicol to act directly on the bacteria that are causing the infectiondirectionsif you are just using the ointment a strip of ointment approximately 1cm in length should be applied to the inside of the eyelid three to four times a day for five days