Key takeaways
Gentamicin (Gentak) and levofloxacin are both antibiotics used to treat bacterial eye infections, such as pink eye and corneal ulcers. However, they belong to different medication classes. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, while levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Gentamicin is available as an eye drop and an eye ointment, whereas levofloxacin is only available as an eye drop. Gentamicin is typically used every 4 hours, but for severe infections, it may be used every hour. Levofloxacin dosing varies based on the strength: the 0.5% strength is used for pink eye and the 1.5% strength for corneal ulcers, with more frequent dosing initially. Both medications are available in a generic form. Common side effects of gentamicin include eye irritation and burning, while levofloxacin can cause temporary eye discomfort and headaches. Both medications require a prescription and should not be used longer than prescribed to avoid new infections.
