Sometimes our eyes suddenly become red, itchy, and swollen, right? Or it feels like a minor allergy. When you go to see a doctor at a time like this, he or she may prescribe you an eye medication called Dexamethasone, which is an ointment. So, many people are a little afraid to use this. Questions like "Will this do anything to the eyes?" "How exactly do I apply it?" come up. That's why, today, we will talk about this Dexamethasone medication clearly and simply.
Simply put, what is Dexamethasone?
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid . Imagine that when there is swelling or redness in our body due to an injury or an allergy, our body produces hormones to control it. This corticosteroid is also a powerful medicine that is administered externally.
So when this medicine is applied to the eye, it mainly controls the swelling, redness, itching, and symptoms of allergic reactions in or around the eye. This is not like the usual eye drops you use for red eyes, but a slightly stronger medicine that is given for specific conditions.
Things you need to tell your doctor before using this medicine
Before prescribing this medication to you, your doctor will ask you some questions. However, it is very important for you to inform your doctor about these things as well. Because it greatly affects your safety.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| If you have an active infection in the eye or elsewhere in the body | Because dexamethasone slightly weakens the body's immune system, some infections (especially fungal or viral) may become more severe. |
| If you have cataracts or glaucoma | Long-term use of this medication may increase eye pressure and increase the risk of developing cataracts. |
| If you wear contact lenses | It is not advisable to wear contact lenses while using the medication. You should ask your doctor when you can start wearing them again. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | This information is essential for the doctor to consider the possible effects on the baby. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | The doctor needs to know this to determine whether the medication will pass to the baby through breast milk and whether it will have any effect. |
| If you have allergies to other medicines, foods, or Dexamethasone | This is important to avoid the risk of you developing an allergy. |
How do you apply this medicine correctly to your eyes?
It is very important to do this correctly. If you apply it incorrectly, the medicine will not work and you may even get an eye infection. Follow these steps.
1. Wash your hands: First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The eyes are a very sensitive area.
2. Preparation: Sit in a chair or lie down on a bed and tilt your head back slightly.
3. Creating a pouch: With your index finger, pull down the lower eyelid. This will create a small pouch-like space between the eyelid and the eye.
4. Applying the medication: Place the tip of the medication tube over the bag you made and squeeze a strip of medication about 1 centimeter (about 1/3 inch) into the bag. Very important: Never touch the tip of the tube to your eye, eyelid, or finger. Doing so can introduce germs into the tube and contaminate the medication.
5. Keeping your eyes closed: After applying the medicine, close your eyes. Do not blink. Keep your eyes closed for a minute or two. This will allow the medicine to spread throughout the eye and be absorbed.
6. Re-wash your hands: When you are finished, wash your hands thoroughly again.
This medicine is for you only. Never share this medicine with anyone else , even if they have the same symptoms as you. It can be dangerous.
Should this medicine be given to children?
If your child is prescribed this medicine by a doctor, you should take special care with it. Be sure to ask your doctor about the dosage and how to use it.
What if the medicine is used too much?
If you accidentally take too much of this medicine, do not panic. However, if this happens, immediately go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital. You can also call the National Poisons Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital in our country for advice.
What do you do if you forget to take your medicine?
If you forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose (for example, it is within an hour or two), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time.
What are the possible side effects of this medicine?
Like any medicine, Dexamethasone can cause some side effects. Although not everybody gets them, some are serious and some are common.
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reaction | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Changes in Vision | Things like blurred vision, seeing double, seeing rings around lights. |
| Eye pain | It's not a slight burning sensation that comes right after applying the medicine, but a constant, severe pain. |
| Symptoms of eye infection | Eye discharge, redness, or increased pain. |
| Things to tell your doctor if they persist or are bothersome | |
| Temporary inconvenience | Immediately after applying the medication, you may experience a slight burning sensation, watery eyes, or temporary blurred vision. These usually disappear within a few minutes. |
How to store the medicine?
To maintain the quality of the medicine, it must be stored properly.
- Keep away from children.
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 degrees Celsius). Do not store in extremely cold or hot places. Do not freeze.
- Throw away any medicine left after the expiration date.
Take-Home Message
- Dexamethasone is a powerful medication for eye swelling, redness, and allergies. Always use this only under the advice of a doctor .
- Before using the medicine, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have (especially cataracts, glaucoma, infections) and other medications you are taking.
- Do not touch the mouth of the medicine tube to your eye, apply it to your eye exactly as directed.
- If you experience any serious side effects, such as changes in vision or severe eye pain, call your doctor immediately.
- This is a medicine prescribed for you only. Do not let anyone else use it for any reason.
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