Key takeaways:
Zirgan (ganciclovir) is a prescription-only antiviral gel used to treat eye infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Without insurance, 1 bottle of Zirgan (5 g of 0.15% eye gel) costs an average of $574.82. You could pay as little as $465.94 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies.
Zirgan’s manufacturer, Bausch + Lomb, has a savings program that allows eligible consumers with commercial insurance that covers the medication to pay as little as a $25 copay per fill. Those whose insurance does not cover Zirgan could pay as little as $70 per fill.
Save on related medications
An eye infection may require medication. Zirgan (ganciclovir), is a prescription-only gel used to treat eye infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
HSV keratitis, which is also known as herpetic keratitis, occurs when the cornea becomes infected and can cause a dendritic ulcer. While the sore typically will heal with no complications, in severe cases it can scar the cornea or even lead to blindness.
Zirgan is an antiviral eye gel that you apply to the infected eye or eyes. The typical dosage is 1 drop of the gel in an infected eye 5 times per day, or approximately every 3 hours while awake, until the eye ulcer heals. After that, the dosage changes to 1 drop 3 times daily for 7 days.
The cost of Zirgan depends on several factors, including whether you have health insurance that covers the medication. If you don’t have health insurance coverage for Zirgan, a GoodRx coupon can help you save at certain pharmacies. This medication does not have a generic option available.
Zirgan basics
The chart below provides a summary of basic information about Zirgan.
| Brand name | Zirgan |
| Form | Antiviral eye gel |
| FDA-approved use | Treatment of acute herpetic keratitis in adults and kids ages 2 years and older |
| Benefits |
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| Possible side effects |
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Is Zirgan covered by insurance?
Nearly all Medicaid and Medicare plans cover Zirgan. Most commercial insurance plans, including those purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) marketplace, also cover the eye gel.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Zirgan is covered. If not, contact your prescription plan provider and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or a pharmacist.
How insurance covers Zirgan
The following chart shows the likelihood of having coverage — as well as prior authorization and step therapy requirements — for Zirgan, based on the type of insurance plan. About 1 in 3 Medicaid enrollees who fill a prescription for Zirgan will be required to get prior authorization, but less than 1% will have to do step therapy.
Insurance Coverage for Zirgan
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 1 bottle (5 g of 0.15% gel) Zirgan | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
Commercial plans (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 77.4% | 9% | 1.6% |
80.3% | 6.5% | 2.5% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 91.9% | 0% | 0.8% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.6% | 31.3% | 0.5% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of June 13, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance plan doesn’t cover Zirgan, you still have options:
Ask your prescriber about switching to a less costly eye antiviral that works in a similar way and may still meet your needs. They may recommend a lower-cost generic medication.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company to get Zirgan covered. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.
Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides the coverage you need.
How much does Zirgan cost without insurance?
Without insurance, what you’ll pay for Zirgan depends on several factors, including your:
Specific pharmacy
Geographic location
Fill quantity
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Get the facts on herpes. Herpes — which is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) — can cause painful blisters in your genital area and on your mouth and face.
What’s it like to have herpes? Some people who have herpes experience shame and social stigma. Read about three people who have transcended the diagnosis to support and educate others.
The following table shows what you might pay for Zirgan as a self-pay consumer.
Zirgan Cost Without Insurance
Zirgan quantity, form, and dose | Average cash price |
|---|---|
1 bottle (5 g of 0.15% eye gel) |
Ways to save on Zirgan without insurance
Without savings, Zirgan may be a stretch for your budget. Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost. Here are five options.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
You may be able to use a free GoodRx coupon to lower the price of your Zirgan prescription. For example, without insurance, you could pay as low as $465.94 for 1 bottle of Zirgan (5 g of 0.15% eye gel) with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies. Visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device to download and use a coupon today. Here’s how:
On the app or website, type “Zirgan” in the search field.
Choose the desired quantity. Input your ZIP code or address, or select “Use my current location,” so you see results for local pharmacies.
Choose how to receive your coupon. You may want it emailed or texted to you, or you may want to print it out.
Take your coupon with you to the pharmacy. You can also present the coupon to the pharmacy’s staff early in the filling process to avoid delays at the pickup counter.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
GoodRx lets you easily compare Zirgan prices at different pharmacies in your area. You might find it’s worth traveling a bit further to get a discounted price.
3. Try a manufacturer-sponsored savings program
You may be able to save on Zirgan using the manufacturer’s copay savings program. Here are the available options:
For people with commercial insurance that covers Zirgan: Through the Bausch + Lomb Access Program, eligible consumers can pay as little as a $25 copay for their prescription. This deal is valid at Walgreens and other participating independent pharmacies. At nonparticipating pharmacies, you may pay as little as $35 for your copay. People who have government-sponsored insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare, are not eligible for this program.
For people who are uninsured or don’t have coverage for Zirgan: If you don’t have coverage for Zirgan, you could pay as little as $70 at Walgreens and other participating pharmacies through the program.
Zirgan is also included in the manufacturer’s patient assistance program, which is available to people who have experienced financial and insurance hardships, such as not having adequate coverage or not being able to afford copays. If you qualify, you could receive free Zirgan for up to a year and an option to renew annually. Click here to find out if you’re eligible.
4. Ask your prescriber about alternatives
Zirgan isn’t the only antiviral medication available to treat eye infections caused by HSV. Ask your prescriber about lower-cost options that may adequately treat your condition.
5. Use tax-advantaged healthcare funds
Consider using a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to pay for your medication. These types of accounts have multiple tax benefits when they’re used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. This can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings. But be sure to review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.
The bottom line
Zirgan (ganciclovir) is a prescription-only topical antiviral gel used to treat eye infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). The cost of Zirgan depends on factors such as the pharmacy you use and your insurance coverage status. If you don’t have insurance, the average price of 1 bottle of Zirgan is $574.82, but you could pay as little as $465.94 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies.
If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to take advantage of Bausch + Lomb's copay savings program and pay as little as $25 for your prescription. If you don’t have insurance, the program could bring your price for a fill to as low as $70 at participating pharmacies. Or you could pay $0 for Zirgan if you qualify for the Bausch + Lomb patient assistance program.
Other ways to save include using funds from a tax-advantaged healthcare account, asking your prescriber about cost-effective alternatives, and shopping around at different pharmacies.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of June 2025.
We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel.
We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.
Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel.
These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Bausch + Lomb. (n.d.). Bausch + Lomb copay program.
Bausch + Lomb. (n.d.). Bausch + Lomb patient assistance program eligibility.
Bausch + Lomb. (n.d.). Bausch + Lomb patient assistance program included products.
Bausch + Lomb. (n.d.). Bausch + Lomb patient assistance programs.
Bausch & Lomb. (2024). Zirgan - ganciclovir gel [package insert].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). What causes HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) keratitis.
Delfaro, A. (2024). Eye infections. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Karpecki, P. M. (2025). The great masquerader. Review of Optometry.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services.
Sheppard, J. D. (2014). Fighting the battle against herpetic keratitis. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today.