Ofloxacin eye drops

About ofloxacin eye drops

Ofloxacin eye drops are used to treat bacterial eye infections. They work by helping to kill the bacteria which are causing the infection.

Eye infections are a common cause of conjunctivitis. In conjunctivitis, your eye becomes inflamed, feels gritty, and may water more than usual. The white of your eye may look red, and your eyelids may become swollen and stuck together with a discharge when you wake up in the morning. Only one eye may be infected to begin with, but it often spreads to both eyes. Most cases of conjuntivitis infecciosa clear within a week or so without treatment. For more severe infections, or for infections which do not clear on their own, an antibiotic eye drop such as ofloxacin can be used.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start using ofloxacin eye drops it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si estás embarazada o amamantando.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un antibiótico, o a cualquier colirio.

• If you have a heart condition or an unusual heart rhythm.

• Si está tomando o usando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

1. Wash your hands well before you use the drops.

2. Retire la tapa.

3. Inclina un poco la cabeza hacia atrás y tira del párpado inferior hacia abajo para formar un bolsillo.

4. Sostén la botella boca abajo cerca de tu ojo. Intenta no tocar tu ojo mientras haces esto.

5. Apply enough pressure to the bottle to release one drop into your eye.

6. Cierra el ojo durante uno o dos minutos y presiona suavemente el lado de tu nariz donde la esquina de tu ojo se encuentra con tu nariz. Esto ayuda a evitar que la gota se drene y la mantiene en tu ojo.

7. Repite el proceso en tu otro ojo si te han indicado usar las gotas en ambos ojos.

8. Coloca de nuevo la tapa.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from the pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about the drops, and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from using them.

• If your eyes have an obvious discharge or 'crust', it can help if you bathe them with cool clean water before using ofloxacin.

• Use the drops regularly, exactly as your doctor tells you to. If the infection is severe, this is likely to be every 2-4 hours for the first two days. (Just use the drops while you are awake - you do not need to wake yourself up during the night to put them in.) On day three, reduce the frequency down to four times a day.

• If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, speak again with your doctor.

• When you first put the drops into your eye, it may cause blurred vision. This should quickly clear, but make sure you can see clearly again before you drive or before using machines or tools.

• Tenga cuidado de no propagar la infección de un ojo al otro, y a otros miembros de su familia. Lavarse las manos regularmente (particularmente después de tocarse los ojos) y no compartir toallas o almohadas ayudará a prevenir la propagación de la infección.

• Si la punta del frasco toca tu(s) ojo(s) al poner las gotas, es una buena idea exprimir dos o tres gotas inmediatamente sobre un pañuelo y enjuagar la punta con agua salada.

• Eye infections, or using ofloxacin eye drops, may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to sunlight than usual. Wearing sunglasses may help to protect your eyes.

• If you are using any other eye drops, leave at least five minutes between applying each preparation. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and not have the intended effect.

• Even when your eye appears normal again, there may still be some bacteria present. It is important to continue to use the drops for a further 48 hours once your eye appears normal. This will help to make sure that all the bacteria have been killed. It is likely that you may need to use the drops for about a week, but you should not use them for any longer than 10 days.

• No use lentes de contacto hasta que sus síntomas hayan desaparecido por completo. Espere 24 horas después de la última dosis de gotas para los ojos antes de volver a usar sus lentes.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with ofloxacin eye drops. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with the drops. Speak with your doctor if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the drops, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

• Throw away the bottle after you have finished the course of treatment, even if there is some liquid left. Never keep opened bottles of eye drops to use later.