Prescription Eye Drops

Eye drops are often used to administer medicines for treating any eye disease or disorder and also for preparing the eyes for various diagnostic procedures. These saline-containing drops may or may not contain medicines. Eye drops with different medicines are used to treat various eye diseases. But those without medicines, like artificial tears or decongestant drops, are used for lubricating the eyes and to give them a clear look. The latter category are called non-prescription eye drops and are usually available over the counter. But eye drops with medicines, called prescription eye drops, are prescribed by doctors.

Prescription Eye Drops

Nobody wants to take a risk as far as their eyes are concerned, and so it is always better to consult an ophthalmologist and take the medicines that he prescribes. You can cut down the cost by opting for over-the-counter eye drops from a pharmaceutical store. Though these eye drops are safe, they may cause some problems, when used for a long period. Hence, prescription medicines are considered to be safer than the non-prescription ones. But it does not mean that no side effects are associated with prescription drugs. Side effects may develop in some people, but you also have a chance to discuss such problems with the doctor beforehand. Unlike non-prescription eye drops, most of which are used for short term relief, prescription eye drops are used for both short term and long term treatment.

Common Uses of Prescription Eye Drops

As mentioned earlier, prescription eye drops contain medicines, which can be antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-allergic or the ones used to treat glaucoma. The most common use of prescription eye drops is to administer anti-allergic medications, which are aimed at reducing the effects of histamine, a chemical produced in the body during an allergic reaction, that leads to symptoms like itchy and red eyes. These eye drops prevents the formation of histamines or blocks its action in the body, i.e. the allergy of the eyes.

Prescription eye drops also include those with anti-inflammatory medicines, which are mainly used to reduce the inflammation of the eyes. Generally, corticosteroids are used for this purpose. Such eye drops should be purchased, only upon the prescription of the doctor, as they can lead to glaucoma and cataract and increases the risk of eye infections. While antiviral eye drops are primarily intended to treat herpes of the eye, along with other oral medicines, antibiotics are used in case of bacterial eye infections. Different antibiotics are used for different type of infections as a single medication cannot deal with all the types.

Another common type is glaucoma eye drops, which are helpful in reducing the excess pressure in the eyes. These eye drops facilitate a reduction in the formation of fluids in the eye or enables the eye to drain the fluid. As glaucoma can cause serious damage to the optic nerve, medications should be always taken as per the prescription of the doctor and with due care. Most people prefer over-the-counter medicines for dry and itchy eyes, but expert advice is needed in case of severe dry eye and you should consult an eye specialist for the treatment.

It is a general practice to opt for over-the-counter medicines for eye problems. Most of them can be effective too. But always remember, your eyes are very valuable, and it is not right to take risks as far as eye care is concerned. Always consult a doctor and prefer prescription eye drops over the non-prescription ones.