6 Corticosteroid (Steroid) Eye Drops: Uses, Formulations, and How to Save
Steroid eye drops, such as prednisolone, may be prescribed to treat inflammation from eye surgery. Learn more with this list of popular steroid eye drops.
Flarex
Used for Allergic Conjunctivitis, Eye Inflammation
Used for Allergic Conjunctivitis, Eye Inflammation
Flarex is the brand name for fluorometholone acetate 0.1% suspension, which is a steroid eye drop. It's used to treat eye inflammation symptoms in adults. The medication is placed directly into the affected eye(s) 4 times a day. You might have blurry vision as a side effect after you use the eye drops.
What is Flarex (fluorometholone)?
What is Flarex (fluorometholone) used for?
How Flarex (fluorometholone) works
Flarex (fluorometholone) is a corticosteroid. The exact way it works isn't fully known. But it's thought to block certain chemicals in the body that cause inflammation.
When used in the eye, Flarex (fluorometholone) helps lower inflammation in the eye. It helps relieve symptoms like swelling, itchiness, and redness.
When does Flarex (fluorometholone) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Flarex |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Corticosteroid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Flarex (fluorometholone)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Blurry vision
Less Common Side Effects
- Unclear field of vision
- Other eye irritation
- Abnormal taste
Flarex (fluorometholone) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- High eye pressure or eye injury: eye pain, discomfort, change in vision that doesn't go away
- Eye infection: eye pain, eye discharge, eye redness, swelling around the eye
When do Flarex (fluorometholone) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Blurry vision
The following Flarex (fluorometholone) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
blurred vision or other change in vision
burning, dry, or itching eyes
decreased vision
delayed wound healing
discharge from eye
headache
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
nausea or vomiting
redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
tearing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Burning and stinging sensation when medicine is applied
drooping upper eyelids
feeling of having something in the eye
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$158.94
Manufacturer exclusive discount
$99.00
Pros and cons of Flarex (fluorometholone)
Pros
- Might work better to help with eye inflammation than the other formulation of fluorometholone (FML)
- Should start to work within 2 days
- Generally few side effects
Cons
- Might need to use up to 4 times per day
- Might need to get your eyes checked periodically if you use the eye drops for a long time
- Not approved for use in children
Pharmacist tips for Flarex (fluorometholone)
- Flarex (fluorometholone) should start to work soon after you begin using it. If your eye pain and swelling don't start to get better after 2 days of use, tell your care team. They can check if you should keep using the eye drops or have your eyes looked at again.
- If your symptoms don't improve at all after 2 weeks of regular use with Flarex (fluorometholone), talk to your care team. They can see if there's something else going on and see if your treatment plan needs to change.
- Wash and dry your hands before using Flarex (fluorometholone). Then, wash your hands again after you use it.
- How to use the Flarex (fluorometholone): Shake the bottle well before using. Then, tilt your head back, look up, and gently pull down your lower eyelid. Hold the bottle above your eye and put 1 or 2 drops in. Then, close your eye and press your finger on the inner corner of the eye for about a minute to keep the medication in.
- If you wear contact lenses, take them out before you use Flarex (fluorometholone). There's a preservative in the eye drops that helps keep the medication free of germs but can damage your contacts. Wait at least 15 minutes after using the eye drops before putting your contacts back in.
- Your vision can get a little blurry right after you use Flarex (fluorometholone). This should go away shortly. But make sure your vision clears up before driving or using machines.
- Be very careful not to let the tip of the Flarex (fluorometholone) bottle touch your eye or anything else. Also don't touch the tip with your fingers. Keep the bottle cap on tightly when you’re not using it. This helps keep germs out of the medication and lowers your risk of an eye infection.
- If you use other eye drops or eye ointments with Flarex (fluorometholone), wait at least 5 minutes between each one. This gives your eye enough time to absorb the medication properly.
- Keep your Flarex (fluorometholone) eye drops in a cool, dry spot. Keep it at room temperature (between 36ºF and 77ºF).
Risks and warnings for Flarex (fluorometholone)
Flarex (fluorometholone) 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.
Risk of eye infection with long-term use
- Risk factors: Long-term use | History of viral eye infections (including herpes simplex in the eye) | Untreated eye infection
Long-term use of Flarex (fluorometholone) can raise your risk of an eye infection. It can also make eye infections you already have worse or take longer to go away. Before starting this medication, tell your prescriber if you currently have an eye infection. This includes a herpes infection in the eye. You shouldn't use the eye drops until the infection is treated.
Get medical care if you notice more eye pain, redness, or swelling. Also get medical care if you see eye discharge, have blurry vision, or have itchy or burning eyes. These can be signs of an eye infection that needs to get checked out.
Risk of eye problems, like higher eye pressure, with long-term use
- Risk factors: Long-term use | History of glaucoma or cataracts
Long-term use of Flarex (fluorometholone) can raise your eye pressure. This can put you at higher risk of glaucoma. Long-term use can also cause other eye problems, like cataracts, thinning of the cornea, or other eye damage. These problems can affect your vision.
If you need to use Flarex (fluorometholone) for a long time (10 days or longer), you'll need to get regular eye exams. This helps check your eye health. Let your prescriber know if you have any vision changes or eye pain while using this medication.
Slow healing of the eye after eye surgery
Steroid eye drops like Flarex (fluorometholone) can slow healing after eye surgery. Tell your prescriber if you recently had cataract surgery or another type of eye surgery. If you need to use this medication after eye surgery, follow your care team's instructions so your eye can heal well.
Avoid contact lenses
Flarex (fluorometholone) contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride. The preservative can get absorbed into soft contact lenses and damage them. Because of this, take out your contact lenses before you use the eye drops. Then, wait at least 15 minutes after using the medication to put your contacts back in.
Flarex (fluorometholone) dosage
The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 5ml of 0.1% of Flarex (fluorometholone) is $99.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 37.71% off the average retail price of $158.94. 
Eye dropper
Eye dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ml of 0.1% | 1 eye dropper | $99.00 | $99.00 |
Typical dosage for Flarex (fluorometholone)
The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) 4 times a day. If your symptoms are severe, your prescriber might have you place 2 drops into the eye(s) every 2 hours during the first 1 to 2 days.
Interactions between Flarex (fluorometholone) and other drugs
Flarex (fluorometholone) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Flarex (fluorometholone). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Flarex (fluorometholone) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Flarex (brand)
$99.00
Flarex (fluorometholone) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Flarex (fluorometholone) will not be safe for you to take.
- Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in the eye
What are alternatives to Flarex (fluorometholone)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Flarex (fluorometholone). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Flarex (fluorometholone)
