Using antibiotic eye drops? Here’s how to get it right, ensure your eyes heal safely

If you notice your eyes feeling unusually irritated;  red and watery, with some swelling around the eye, discharge, or persistent itchines, these may be signs of an infection. Such symptoms signal the need for prompt treatment, often with antibiotic eye drops, to relieve the infection and prevent it from worsening.

Using antibiotic eye drops correctly is vital for the best results and to avoid complications, advises Dr Amod Nayak, Head of Clinical Services at Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospitals, Bengaluru. He shares effective tips for using antibiotic eye drops safely to help protect your eye health and support a smooth recovery.

• Wash your hands: Always start by washing your hands thoroughly before handling eye drops. Clean hands prevent bacteria or other contaminants from entering your eyes, ensuring sterility and reducing the risk of further infection.

• Don’t touch the dropper tip: The dropper tip is sterile when packaged. If it touches any surface, including your eye, it can pick up harmful microorganisms. Be careful not to touch the tip to maintain the eye drops' sterility.

• Follow dosage instructions: Consistency is key to effective treatment. Stick strictly to the prescribed dosage and frequency. Overusing antibiotic drops may lead to side effects or bacterial resistance, while underuse may fail to treat the infection effectively.

• Close eyes after application: After applying the drops, gently close your eyes to allow the medicine to spread evenly across the eye surface and improve absorption. This also helps the drops stay in place longer, thus increasing their effectiveness.

• Avoid contact lenses: If you wear contact lenses, be sure to remove them before using antibiotic eye drops, as the lenses can trap bacteria and worsen the infection. Consult your doctor about when it’s safe to resume wearing contacts.

• Complete the course: Even if your symptoms improve, it’s essential to complete the full course of antibiotic drops as prescribed. Stopping too soon may cause antibiotic resistance or lead to a recurrence of the infection.

• Discard on time: Once opened, antibiotic eye drops typically have a one-month shelf life. Mark the date you opened them and discard the bottle after 30 days to avoid contamination and reduced effectiveness.

• Maintain intervals: If you’re using more than one type of eye drop, wait at least five minutes between applications to allow each medication to be absorbed without interference.

• Do not self-medicate: Antibiotic eye drops should only be used under the guidance of a doctor. Self-medicating can lead to ineffective treatment, resistance, and other potential risks.