Key takeaways
Gentak (gentamicin) and Ocuflox (ofloxacin) are both prescription antibiotics used to treat bacterial eye infections, but they belong to different classes of antibiotics. Gentak is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that works by blocking bacteria from making proteins necessary for their protective covering, while Ocuflox is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that kills bacteria by blocking proteins they need to grow and repair their DNA. Gentak is available as both eye drops and an eye ointment, whereas Ocuflox is only available as eye drops. Gentak is typically used 2 to 3 times a day for eye ointment and every 4 hours for eye drops, while Ocuflox has a more frequent dosing schedule, especially for corneal ulcers, which may require application every 30 minutes initially. Common side effects of Gentak include temporary eye irritation or burning, while Ocuflox can cause a temporary burning sensation or discomfort in the eye. Both medications require you to follow specific instructions to avoid contamination and ensure effectiveness.
