Regular eye drops side effects

As the saying goes: "It is a poison for three drugs." Although this sentence is a bit exaggerated for eye drops, it is not unreasonable. Although the side effects of eye drops are relatively small, it is still a drug, and you must still follow the doctor's advice when using it. In recent years, the abuse of eye drops has reached a relatively serious level, with some negative consequences.

Antibiotic eye drops are often counterproductive if used for long periods of time. In the normal eyelid, conjunctival sac and other ocular surface parts there are a variety of microorganisms (mainly bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) can settle, grow and reproduce, called "normal flora" in medicine, they maintain the human body Ecological balance and the stability of the internal environment play an important role. If the long-term abuse of antibiotic eye drops kills normal bacteria on the one hand and destroys the eye's ecological balance, it may lead to some diseases; on the other hand, it makes bacteria resistant to drugs and waits for bacterial infections in the eyes. When antibiotics are needed, these drugs are ineffective.

Eye drops are the longest-serving drugs used to treat eye diseases. Some people even use it as a “normal product” to use, when they become tired, and when their eyes dry. However, the so-called "three-point drug poison" eye drops is also a kind of drug after all, use caution or focus. Eye drops are the main treatment for eye diseases. Understanding the role of eye drops in the eye and the relationship between the eye drops and the eyes helps to understand the eye drops correctly.

First, normal human conjunctival sac contains 10 microliters of normal tear fluid, and can accommodate up to 20 microliters of liquid medicine. Excess liquid medicine has mostly spilled out of the eye before it is mixed with tear fluid. Therefore, giving more than two drops of eye drops once or twice does not increase the amount of eye drops in the conjunctival sac.

Secondly, most of the eye drops that have been mixed with tear fluid in the conjunctival sac are discharged from the lacrimal duct with tear fluid, so the bioavailability of eye drops is very small. Drugs discharged with the lacrimal passage can be absorbed by the nasopharyngeal mucosa. The functions of infants and young children for drug metabolism or excretion have not yet been fully developed, but older adults have decreased. After using atropine and other drugs, they must lightly press the lacrimal sac to reduce the absorption of drugs, otherwise they are prone to toxic effects.

Furthermore, eye drops do not have to be used too often because certain drugs such as antibiotics, antivirals, anti-trachoma drugs, and anti-glaucoma drugs may affect the function of the lacrimal gland and the integrity of the corneal epithelium. In addition to special requests, it is recommended that eye drops be applied once every hour even when treating acute inflammation.