Bacitracin eye ointment is used to treat bacterial infections in the eye. It has very few side effects, but it might be difficult or uncomfortable for some people to use. It's no longer available as a brand name version, but still available as a lower-cost generic medication. Bacitracin eye ointment requires a prescription and isn't sold over the counter (OTC).
Bacterial eye infections
Bacitracin eye ointment is an antibiotic. It stops the growth of bacteria by making their protective covering weaker. It also blocks certain proteins they need to survive from working.
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Can be used to treat many different kinds of eye infections
Low risk for side effects
Available as a generic medication
Might have to use multiple times a day
Can be messy and difficult to use
Can cause blurry vision right after use
Wash your hands before and after applying bacitracin eye ointment to the eye.
Use a mirror so that you can see where you're placing the ointment. Wipe any excess ointment from your eyelids or lashes with a clean tissue.
Avoid touching the tip of the bacitracin eye ointment tube to your eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. This will prevent bacteria from getting on the tube and into the medication, and help you avoid another eye infection.
Talk to your provider before using bacitracin eye ointment if you wear contact lenses. Typically, contacts shouldn't be worn while you have an eye infection.
Stop using bacitracin eye ointment and talk to your provider if your infection doesn't get better, gets worse, or if you experience a rash or an allergic reaction to the medication.
Be sure to use bacitracin eye ointment for the full amount of time your healthcare provider told you to, even if your symptoms have improved. Stopping bacitracin eye ointment too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
Bacitracin eye ointment can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Though very rare, bacitracin eye ointment can cause allergic reactions. Stop the medication and let your provider know if you experience itching, redness, swelling of the eyes and eyelids, or if your infection isn't getting better. These reactions typically go away after you stop using the medication.
Risk factors: Using the medication for longer than prescribed
Long-term use of bacitracin eye ointment might lead to eye infections that are difficult to treat. This is because the bacteria can become no longer affected by certain antibiotics. Make sure to use bacitracin eye ointment for the exact amount of time your provider has instructed you to. Stop using this medication and let your provider know if your eye infection gets worse or if you experience symptoms, such as thick mucus coming out of your eye, swelling, or pain in your eye.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
3 1g tubes of 500 units/g ophthalmic ointment | 1 carton | $83.61 | $83.61 |
Apply the ointment into the affected eye(s) 1 to 3 times daily.
Bacterial eye infections
By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
American Optometric Association. (n.d.). Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Hiraoka, T., et al. (2012). Time course of changes in ocular wavefront aberration after administration of eye ointment. Nature.
Nguyen, R., et al. (2022). Bacitracin topical. StatPearls.
SafeMedication. (n.d.). How to use eye ointments and gels.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018). Contact lens risks.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Don’t be tempted to use expired medicines.
Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.