Doctors commonly recommend over-the-counter artificial tears, such as Optive, to help lubricate the eyes. After eye surgery, or as a result of dry eye syndrome, many people experience discomfort or irritation on the surface of the eye. Without proper lubrication, a person may also experience blurry vision. Even though Optive and other artificial tears do not require a prescription, these drops may still cause an adverse reaction. Knowing the possible side effects may help identify an allergic response.
Irritation
Some people may have experience sensitivity to the components that make up the artificial tear solution. As a result, a person may experience eye pain or discomfort from lubricating eye drops, explains St. John Providence Health System. The white of the eye may turn red, and a person may also experience itching or burning. In some people, a minor burning sensation will occur when they initially instill the eye drops, but the sting will often disappear quickly.
If a person experiences severe pain or discomfort that does not dissipate quickly, she should contact her eye care professional for an immediate evaluation and treatment of the reaction.
Vision Changes
Sensitivity to the solution that makes up Optive eye drops may affect vision, says St. John Providence Health System. The vision changes may seem hard to detect initially, especially if a person uses Optive to lubricate the eyes after a procedure, such as vision correction surgery, or as a result of a vision-threatening eye condition. For some people, the eye drops will blur vision briefly, but once the drop disperses, vision will return to normal within a short period of time. Vision changes that do not improve quickly require evaluation by an eye doctor or other health care professional.
Systemic Effects
The components of eye drops do not stay the eye, but may drain down the tear duct and spread throughout the body. As a result, some people using Optive eye drops may have topical allergic reactions. Reactions may include hives, rash or swelling of the face, tongue or the lips, says Drugs.com. Optive may also come in direct contact with a person's eyelids, and this may cause redness or irritation of the upper or lower eyelids.
Optive or other lubricating artificial tears may also cause shortness of breathing, gastric pain or sweating, says the University of Illinois at Chicago. If mild symptoms appear, continued use may intensify the reaction. The severity and location of the side effects depends on a users sensitivity to the components of the Optive solution.
