Key takeaways
TobraDex (tobramycin/dexamethasone) and Maxitrol (neomycin/polymyxin B/dexamethasone) are both prescription eye medications used to treat bacterial eye infections and reduce inflammation. TobraDex combines an aminoglycoside antibiotic (tobramycin) with a corticosteroid (dexamethasone), while Maxitrol combines two antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) with the same corticosteroid. Both medications are available as eye drops and eye ointments and need to be used multiple times a day. Both medications are available in a lower-cost generic form. TobraDex and Maxitrol can both cause increased eye pressure if used for more than 10 days, but Maxitrol has an additional risk of causing allergic reactions due to neomycin. Both medications should not be used for viral, fungal, or mycobacterial eye infections.
