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Conjunctivitis - infective - Management
What general information should I be aware of when prescribing a topical ocular antibiotic?

  • Eye drops should be used in preference to ointment if other eye drops are being used concurrently (e.g. for glaucoma).
  • When two different eye-drop preparations are used at the same time of day, an interval of at least 5 minutes should be left between application of the two types. This will help prevent any dilution and overflow that may occur if application of one preparation immediately follows another.
  • Contact lenses should not be used during treatment with topical antibiotics, or if untreated infection is present. Soft contact lenses should be avoided until at least 24 hours after treatment has been completed. In the rare circumstance of this being unavoidable, preservative–free drops should be used, as some preservatives, particularly benzalkonium chloride, accumulate in soft contact lenses and cause irritation. Eye ointment should not be used when contact lenses are worn.
  • Transient blurring of vision can occur with eye drops and people should be warned not to drive or operate machinery unless their vision is clear.
  • If symptoms get worse despite treatment with a topical antibiotic, advise the person to seek medical advice.

[ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2001; ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2008; ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2007b; ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2007a; BNF 54, 2007]

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