Doctors typically prescribe eyedrops or eye ointments to treat eye conditions, though, in less common cases, a person may require oral medications or intravenous medications. Medications instilled in the eye, called ocular medications, may cause side effects, just like any other medication. Before taking any new medication, patients should inform their eye doctors of their current medications and discuss the potential side effects of the newly prescribe ocular medication.
Vision
Eyedrops and eye ointments may cause blurry vision. For many people, the blurriness from the eyedrop will last only a short time, and vision will then return to normal. Some eyedrops, such as lubricating drops for dry eye, may have a thicker consistency, and vision may take longer to clear. Eye ointments, such as artificial tear ointments or antibiotic eye ointments, have a thick, jelly-like consistency, and the ointment will dissolve slowly. If a patient requires only a single dose each day, an eye doctor will usually recommend putting the eye ointment in at bedtime to prevent injury due to the blurred vision. After application, a person should not drive or have any involvement in a situation that may cause injury, warns Drugs.com. Once the ointment disperses into the eye, vision should return to normal.
Irritation
Doctors frequently prescribe eyedrops as the initial treatment for many eye conditions. One of the most common side effects that occur with eyedrop use is surface irritation due to a reaction to the solution or medication. A person can recognize a possible reaction to eyedrops by symptoms such as itching, redness and swelling around the eye, states The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These symptoms may also appear after using over-the-counter eyedrops, which often stem from the preservatives in the drops. People who use nonprescription artificial tears may need to use the preservative-free drops to avoid further irritation to their eyes.
Systemic Effects
Excess tears or other fluid, such as medication placed in the eye, will drain out of the tear duct. This duct, called the lacrimal duct, causes the fluid to drain down the back of the throat and into the stomach. As a result, medications placed in the eye will make their way throughout the body, possibly affecting many parts of the body, called systemic effects. In the stomach alone, eyedrops may cause cramping and diarrhea. Ocular medications may also affect blood pressure and heart rate, explains the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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