After your eye surgery, such as cataract surgery, it is normal for your eyes to be a little sore, swollen, and red. So, to reduce this discomfort and heal your eyes quickly, a special medication that doctors prescribe is called Flurbiprofen eye drops. Today, we will talk about this in detail, very simply.
What is Flurbiprofen?
Simply put, Flurbiprofen is a painkiller and anti -inflammatory medication. It belongs to a group of drugs called NSAIDs. You may have heard of painkillers like Ibuprofen and Diclofenac. Flurbiprofen is also in the same group of drugs. However, it comes in the form of an eye solution, not a pill.
Its main function is to control pain and swelling after eye surgery. This medicine helps to reduce the subtle inflammation that occurs inside the eye due to surgery and bring relief to the eye.
Things to tell your doctor before using this medicine
This is very important. Before the doctor prescribes this medicine for you, he needs to clearly explain some facts about your health condition. Then it will be easier for the doctor to decide whether this medicine is suitable for you or not.
Remember, it is very important for your own safety to talk honestly with your doctor about your health history.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that? (A simple explanation) |
|---|---|
| If you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medications | NSAID medications like flurbiprofen can slightly inhibit blood clotting, so if you already have a bleeding problem, you may be at risk of bleeding inside the eye after surgery. |
| If you use contact lenses | You should ask your doctor if you can wear contact lenses while taking the medication. Sometimes the ingredients in the medication can be absorbed into the lenses. |
| If you are allergic to flurbiprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs | This is something that should definitely be mentioned. If you are allergic to aspirin, you may also be allergic to this medicine. Also, mention any allergies you have to other medications, foods, and dyes. |
| If you are pregnant , trying to get pregnant , or are a breastfeeding mother | We need to be very careful when using any medication during these times. Therefore, it is essential to inform the doctor about this. |
How do you use these eye drops correctly?
To get the full benefit of the medicine, you need to apply it correctly. Let's see how.
1. Wash your hands: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after applying the medication. This is very important to prevent germs from getting into your eyes.
2. Prepare: Tilt your head back slightly and look up. Gently pull down your lower eyelid with your index finger. It will form a small pouch.
3. Put the drops: Do not let the tip of the medicine bottle touch your eyes, fingers, or anywhere else. Doing so can cause germs to enter the bottle and make the medicine dirty. Put the number of drops the doctor told you to put into the bag you made.
4. Close your eyes: After applying the medication, close your eyes slowly for about a minute, without blinking. This will help the medication spread throughout the eye.
5. Blurred vision: Your vision may be slightly blurred for a few minutes after the medication is applied. This is normal, don't worry. It will go away after a while.
6. Apply at the right time: Apply the medicine exactly at the time and number of times a day that the doctor tells you to apply. Only then can the effectiveness of the medicine be maintained at the same level inside the eye.
What if I forget to take my medicine?
If this happens, take the dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take it at the next scheduled time. Never take a double dose (extra dose) to make up for a forgotten dose.
What if the medicine is used too much?
If you think you have taken more medicine than you think, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the National Hospital immediately.Call. Or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) .
What are the possible side effects of using the medicine?
Like any medicine, this can cause minor side effects. However, if you experience any serious side effects, you should inform your doctor immediately.
| Type of side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor immediately | |
| Bleeding inside the eye | A red spot on the white of the eye, or a redness that comes with a change in appearance. |
| Eye or eyelid redness, swelling | It could be an allergy or a severe reaction to the medicine. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Eye burning and stinging after applying medication | This usually occurs at first and then goes away. |
| Itchy or watery eyes | This may also be a minor reaction, but if it persists, tell your doctor. |
Does it interact with other medications?
This eye drop is not expected to have a major interaction with other medications you are taking, as it goes directly into the eye.
However, if you are using a different type of eye drop, be sure to tell your doctor about it. You should wait at least 5-10 minutes after using one drop before using the other. Ask your doctor for advice on this.
Take-Home Message
- Flurbiprofen is a special medication that is given to reduce pain and swelling after eye surgery.
- Before taking the medication, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, especially any allergies to aspirin.
- Use the medicine bottle cleanly, without letting it touch your eyes, hands, or anywhere else.
- If you notice bleeding inside the eye, severe redness, or swelling, call your doctor immediately.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share it with anyone else for any reason.
- Store the medicine bottle at room temperature, out of reach of children. Throw away any remaining medicine after the expiration date.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What are Flurbiprofen Eye Drops / Ocufen used for?
This is a highly effective (NSAID) medication that doctors recommend to prevent uncontrolled contraction/shrinkage of the pupil (Miosis) during eye surgery (cataract surgery) and to immediately relieve inflammation, redness, and severe pain in the eye after the operation!
💬 How do these eye drops (Flurbiprofen) stop eye inflammation and pupil constriction when applied to the eye?
When you have eye surgery/injury, a chemical called 'Prostaglandins' is produced inside the eye, which causes the eye to become blurry and red and the pupil to become smaller! After applying this medicine (NSAID) to the eye, it completely blocks that chemical factory (COX enzymes) and stops the production of that prostaglandin 100% (Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis). Then the swelling and pain in the eye disappear immediately.
💬 What are the dangerous side effects and dangers of using these eye drops (Flurbiprofen)?
The biggest danger with this is that it (as an NSAID) 'Increases Bleeding time'. Therefore, there may be continuous bleeding from the eye surgery site or from a blood vessel in the brain (risky for those who take aspirin). Also, if this is continued, the cornea on the surface of the eye may melt/injury (Corneal melt) and there has been a reported risk of permanent blindness (if you experience redness and blurred vision, tell your doctor immediately).
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