Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) is an eye drop medication that's approved for use in people ages 1 year and older. It's a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that treats conjunctivitis (pink eye) and corneal ulcers caused by bacterial infections. Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) is typically used multiple times per day, depending on the reason you need the eye drops and what day of treatment you're on. Side effects aren't common but can include a temporary burning sensation or discomfort in the eye.
Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) is a fluoroquinolone (or "quinolone") antibiotic. It works by blocking certain proteins that bacteria use to grow, repair their genetic material (DNA), and survive. By blocking this process, ofloxacin (Ocuflox) kills bacteria.
Source: DailyMed
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:
Rare
Puffiness or swelling of eyes
signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, rash, swelling of face or lips, tightness in chest, troubled breathing, or wheezing
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Dizziness
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:
More common
Burning of 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.
Directly treats where the bacterial infection is (in the eye)
Available as a lower-cost generic
Must follow specific instructions and use multiple times a day
Can take days before you get symptom relief
Need to wake up in the middle of the night to use the eye drops for the first 2 days of treatment for corneal ulcers
Make sure to use ofloxacin (Ocuflox) for the full amount of time your prescriber told you to, even if your eye starts to get better. Stopping the antibiotic eye drop too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
Wash your hands before and after putting ofloxacin (Ocuflox) drops in your eyes. Don't let the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface. Also don't touch the dropper tip with your hands. This will help you avoid contaminating the solution.
How to use ofloxacin (Ocuflox): To use the antibiotic eye drops, tilt your head backward and look up. Gently pull your lower eyelid down to form a small pocket and squeeze one drop of medication into this pocket. Don't blink or wipe your eye. Close your eye while pressing a finger against the inside corner of your eye for about 1 minute to help keep the medication in your eye.
If you're using ofloxacin (Ocuflox) at the same time as other eye drop medications, wait 5 to 15 minutes between each medication to give your eyes time to absorb each medication.
Don't wear contacts while you're using ofloxacin (Ocuflox). It's usually best not to wear contacts while you have an eye infection since this can affect how quickly your symptoms improve. Be sure to discard the contacts you were wearing before you started using ofloxacin (Ocuflox); they most likely have bacteria on them. Use a new pair of contacts once your infection clears up.
Keep the ofloxacin (Ocuflox) bottle at room temperature. Don't put it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) 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.
Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) are eye drops that should only be placed on the surface of the eye. Don't put ofloxacin (Ocuflox) on or into any other place on your body, unless your prescriber specifically instructed you to.
Using ofloxacin (Ocuflox) for too long can allow any bacteria, fungi, or other germs that the medication can't get rid of to infect the eye. Contact your primary care provider for follow up if your eye infection isn't improving. You might need additional testing and treatment.
Ofloxacin (Ocuflox) contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride. This preservative can get absorbed into soft contact lenses and damage them. If your prescriber said you can wear contact lenses during treatment, take them out before you use the eye drops. Wait at least 15 minutes after using the medication to put them back into your eye(s).
Risk factors: Allergy to other fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Severe allergic reactions to ofloxacin (Ocuflox) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Get medical help right away if you notice hives, rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, or trouble breathing after you use ofloxacin (Ocuflox).
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
5ml of 0.3% | 1 eye dropper | $132.56 | $132.56 |
Pink eye:
Days 1 and 2: The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 2 to 4 hours.
Days 3 through 7: The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) 4 times a day.
Corneal ulcers:
Days 1 and 2: The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 30 minutes during the hours that you're awake. Then, place 1 to 2 drops every 4 to 6 hours overnight (you'll have to wake up in the middle of the night), or as directed by the prescriber.
Days 3 through 7 to 9: The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every hour while you're awake.
Days 7 to 9 until treatment completion: The typical dose is 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) 4 times a day until your prescription is finished.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Severe allergy to fluoroquinolone antibiotics
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Apotex Corp. (2023). Ofloxacin solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
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InformedHealth.org. (2022). In brief: Using eye drops properly. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
Mitra, A., et al. (2007). Corneal deposits and topical ofloxacin–the effect of polypharmacy in the management of microbial keratitis. Eye.
Pandey, N., et al. (2023). Beta-lactam antibiotics. StatPearls.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2018). Contact lens risks.
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