Sometimes our eyes suddenly become red, itchy, and swollen, don't they? A commonly used medication that doctors prescribe for allergies and inflammation inside the eye is an eye ointment called Fluorometholone. So, today we will talk about this medication, how to use it, and the things we need to be careful about, in a very simple and friendly way.
Simply put, what is Fluorometholone?
Fluorometholone is a drug that belongs to the Corticosteroid class of drugs. Imagine that there is a small "fire" inside our eye due to some allergy. This is why the eye becomes red, itchy, and swollen. So what this Fluorometholone ointment does is control the "fire" inside the eye, that is, the inflammation.
Simply put, this medicine controls the following things in your eye:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Itching
- Allergic reactions
The most important thing is that this should never be used without a doctor's prescription, as it is not suitable for all eye conditions.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before your doctor prescribes this medication, he or she will need to have a complete picture of your health. Therefore, if you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor.
| Your situation | Why is it important to the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Any current eye infection | Steroid medications like these can make some bacterial, viral, or fungal infections worse. |
| Cataracts or glaucoma | Steroid medications can increase eye pressure, which can make glaucoma worse. |
| If you are a contact lens wearer | Do not wear contact lenses while using the ointment. Also, it is not recommended to wear lenses even if there is a reason for which this medicine is prescribed (e.g. infection). |
| Recent eye surgery | Medication can affect the healing process after surgery. |
| If you have an allergy to fluorometholone or other medicines or foods | This is essential to ensure that you do not develop an allergy. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | The doctor will make a decision based on the need for the medication and the potential risks. |
| If you are a breastfeeding mother | Be aware of the possibility of the medicine passing to the baby through breast milk. |
How do you apply this ointment to the eye correctly?
This is a very simple, but very neat thing to do. Let's see how it goes.
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is very important, as dirty hands can transfer germs to your eyes.
2. Open the cap of the ointment tube. Do not let the tip of the tube touch your fingertips, eyes , eyelids, or any other surface. Doing so may contaminate the medicine.
3. Tilt your head back a little and look up. Now, with your index finger, gently pull your lower eyelid down. This will create a small pouch-like space inside your lower eyelid.
4. Now, being careful not to touch the mouth of the tube to your eye, apply a small strip of ointment about a centimeter long to the inside of the prepared lower eyelid.
5. Gently close your eye and gently rub the eyelid in a circular motion to spread the ointment inside.
6. Your vision may be slightly blurry for a few minutes after applying the ointment. This is normal, so don't worry.
7. Use the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the exact times and for the exact number of days. Even if you feel that your condition has improved, do not stop taking the medicine until the doctor has completed the prescribed number of days.
Side effects and things we should be concerned about
Like all medications, this one can have minor side effects. But most people don't. Let's take a look at what they are, and what to do if they do.
| Side effect | What should you do? |
|---|---|
| Things to tell your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions: severe swelling, severe itching, or redness of the eyelids. | Stop using the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor. |
| Eye pain, decreased or blurred vision (that doesn't go away) | See your doctor immediately. |
| Signs of another eye infection (e.g., yellow discharge, excessive tearing) | Notify the doctor immediately. |
| Usually nothing to worry about, but if it persists, tell your doctor. | |
| Blurred vision for a few minutes after applying the medication | This is normal. It will heal in a short time. |
| Change in taste in the mouth | This can happen because the tear duct in the eye is connected to the throat. If it persists, tell your doctor . |
| Temporary tearing or burning sensation in the eyes | This usually goes away within a few minutes. |
A few other important points
- What if I forget to take my medicine?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose on time. Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
- What if it is used too much?
If you think you have taken more medicine than you think, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
- Use for children?
Doctors sometimes prescribe this medicine to children over 2 years of age. But with special care. Therefore, if you are using this for a child, you should follow the doctor's instructions exactly.
- Medicine storage
Keep the medicine tube out of the reach of children . Store at room temperature (between 15-25 Celsius). Protect from extreme heat and extreme cold. Throw away any medicine that has expired.
Take-Home Message
- Fluorometholone is a corticosteroid ointment that controls eye inflammation (swelling, redness, itching).
- If you have other medical conditions such as glaucoma, eye infections, or if you are pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor before using the medication.
- When applying the ointment to the eye, use it cleanly, without letting the tip of the tube touch anything. It is normal for vision to be slightly blurred after applying the medicine.
- If eye pain increases, vision continues to be blurred, or severe allergic symptoms develop, discontinue use of the medication immediately and contact your doctor.
- This medicine is prescribed for you only. Never share it with others.
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