Eye drops are used to treat many types of eye problems, such as eye discomfort, itching, irritation, dry eyes, allergic conjunctivitis, inflammation, or bacterial infections, for example. This is because they contain substances that improve eye lubrication, reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms, or help eliminate bacteria.
Eye drops are sterile liquid medications applied to the eye in drops. The number of drops to use should be determined by a healthcare provider on an individual basis.
The type of eye drops you should use depends on the specific condition being treated and must be prescribed or approved by an ophthalmologist. Although applied topically, eye drops are medications, so while they can relieve discomfort, they may not address the underlying cause and can sometimes mask symptoms.
Main types
The main types of eye drops are:
1. Lubricating eye drops
Lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, contain substances such as carboxymethylcellulose, carmellose sodium, or hypromellose, for example, which help clean the eyes and keep them properly moisturized.
These eye drops are usually recommended to treat dry eye syndrome, burning, irritation, or itching caused by dust, smoke, pollutants, chemicals, ultraviolet (UV) rays, dry heat or excessive heat, air conditioning, wind, cosmetics, or excessive use of computers, cell phones, or TVs.
They may also be used by people who wear contact lenses and experience significant eye dryness.
Some examples of lubricant eye drops include Systane and Refresh Tears, which can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription.
However, it is recommended to see an ophthalmologist to evaluate the cause of dry eyes and to choose the most appropriate lubricating eye drops.
2. Antibiotic eye drops
Antibiotic eye drops are used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, which is an eye infection caused by bacteria.
Some prescription eye drops combine an antibiotic (such as neomycin and polymyxin B) with a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory agent like dexamethasone. These combination products can help reduce inflammation, tearing, and discomfort when a corticosteroid is indicated and bacterial infection is present or suspected.
Some examples of antibiotic eye drops include Zymaxid and Vigamox, which are available with a prescription at most pharmacies.
3. Anti-inflammatory eye drops
Anti-inflammatory eye drops contain substances that reduce eye inflammation, such as ketorolac tromethamine, diclofenac sodium, or nepafenac, for example.
These eye drops are especially recommended during recovery after eye surgery or for treating conditions such as viral conjunctivitis, chronic conjunctivitis, or keratitis, which is an inflammation that affects the cornea.
Some examples of eye drops with anti-inflammatory action, used to prevent and treat pain and inflammation, include Acular LS, diclofenac ophthalmic solution (generic), or Nevanac, for example.
4. Anti-allergy eye drops
Anti-allergy eye drops contain antihistamine substances such as epinastine hydrochloride, ketotifen fumarate, alcaftadine, or fluorometholone acetate, for example.
These eye drops help relieve symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, such as redness, itching, irritation, tearing, or swelling in the eyes.
Some examples of anti-allergy eye drops include Zaditor and Lastacaft, or Flarex, which can be purchased over-the-counter in pharmacies or drugstores.
5. Anesthetic eye drops
Anesthetic eye drops reduce eye pain and sensitivity, which allows ophthalmic medical procedures to be performed.
However, this type of eye drops can be dangerous because it removes pain and sensitivity, which can lead to injury. For example, rubbing the eye may cause corneal damage due to reduced sensation.
Some examples of anesthetic eye drops include proparacaine, which may be used by a doctor in a hospital or clinic for diagnostic exams, such as measuring eye pressure, scraping the eye, or removing foreign bodies, for example.
6. Decongestant eye drops
This type of eye drops, also known as vasoconstrictors, decongest and lubricate the eyes and is especially recommended to help relieve mild irritation or eye redness caused by colds, rhinitis, foreign bodies, dust, smoke, rigid contact lenses, sun exposure, or pool water or seawater, for example.
Examples of vasoconstrictor eye drops include tetrahydrozoline- or naphazoline-based products, and they should be used as directed.
Decongestant eye drops should not be used by people with narrow-angle glaucoma. Depending on the product, they may also be contraindicated for people who use monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medications such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine, for example.
7. Eye drops for glaucoma
Eye drops for glaucoma help lower intraocular pressure and should be used daily, with medical guidance based on the type of glaucoma, to control the condition and help prevent blindness.
Some examples of eye drops used to treat glaucoma include Lumigan, Xalatan, and Timoptic.
How to use
When using any type of eye drops, some important instructions to follow include:
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Avoid letting the tip of the bottle touch the eye, fingers, or any other surface;
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Close the bottle immediately after applying the drops;
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Always use the number of drops prescribed by a healthcare provider to prevent overdosing;
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Wait at least 5 minutes between applications if more than one type of eye drops is needed;
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Remove contact lenses before applying eye drops and wait 15 minutes after application before putting them back in.
These precautions are very important because they help ensure proper use and prevent contamination of the bottle and medication.
During application, it is ideal to lie down and place the drops into the lower part of the eye, specifically into the pocket that forms when the lower eyelid is gently pulled downward.
Afterward, the eye should be closed and gentle pressure applied to the corner near the nose to help with local absorption of the medication.