Eye drops can be a treatment for problems like dry eyes, allergies, and even glaucoma. They come in many varieties, including preservative-free eye drops that are recommended for more frequent use. But be careful not to use expired products.
Expired products can be contaminated with germs and harmful to your eyes, so it’s not worth the risk. Preservative free eye drops should not be used past their due date. Eye drops that are past their due date can also be less effective.
If you have dry eyes or other discomforts, be sure to speak with an optometrist. There may be several options available for your symptoms.
Understanding Eye Drops
Eye drops, or artificial tears, are topical medicines that are applied to the surface of the eye. Eye drops can be used for a wide range of eye health concerns, from dry eyes and allergies to glaucoma and infections. Types of eye drops include:
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Eye Drops: These can be bought at Airdrie Family Eye Doctors and pharmacies without an eye doctor’s prescription. Typically, their uses include lubricating dry eyes, reducing inflammation and redness, and rinsing out debris.
- Prescription Eye Drops: These types of eye drops must be prescribed by an eye doctor. Prescription eye drops may be used to treat glaucoma, calm down inflammation, or treat allergy symptoms.
- Preservative-free Eye Drops: Many eye drops use preservatives to help prevent the growth of germs, but using preservatives too much may be harmful to eyes. Preservative-free products have since become more common. If you use eye drops regularly, ask your eye doctor about the benefits and risks of preservative-free eye drops.
Expired Eye Drop Risks
Using expired medication carries risks. This is especially true of liquid medicines, including eye drops.
Expired Eye Drops Are Less Effective
Perhaps most notably, expired eye drops are less effective at treating your eye health condition than fresh eye drops. All medications degrade as time goes by, and as chemicals change, how well a drug works will also deteriorate.
Therefore, expired eye drops can be very harmful to depend on if a patient relies on them to treat a serious condition.
Contamination Is More Likely in Expired Eye Drops
When you break the sterile seal on a bottle of eye drops, germs can enter the medication.
Expired medications—especially liquid ones like cough syrups and eye drops—are susceptible to bacteria growth. Consuming drugs contaminated with bacteria can be dangerous, and people in this situation should seek prompt medical attention.
Expired Eye Drops Are Difficult to Predict
Little research on expired medication exists, so we’re not certain what to expect when someone consumes expired drugs. If in doubt, it’s best to be safe rather than sorry and avoid using expired eye drops.
More Tips on Effective Eye Drop Use
Eye drops are sometimes expensive, so make sure you understand how to properly store them. Successful treatment is more likely if you understand how to use and care for your eye drops.
Keep Things Clean
Your hands can harbour a lot of germs, so get into the habit of washing them with soap and water before using eye drops.
Never share your eye drops, and try not to touch the dropper to your eye. Closing the bottle right after using the eye drops helps prevent bacterial contamination.
If you wear contact lenses, don’t put in eye drops while wearing them unless you’ve been told to do so by your eye doctor.
Store Your Eye Drops Properly
Make sure you understand how to properly store your eye drops. Some eye drops do better at room temperature; others should be stored in the fridge. If you don’t know the expiration date of your medication, ask your pharmacist. Sometimes, when eye drops expire depends on how long it’s been since the bottle was opened.
Ask For Help
Contact your eye doctor if you:
- Use eye drops a lot: Using eye drop products containing preservatives more than four times daily is not recommended. If you find yourself needing eye drops often, talk to your eye doctor.
- Experience side effects: You should also contact your eye doctor if you experience uncomfortable side effects, especially if they’re intense or surprising.
- Don’t have key information: Know your medication’s expiration date and how to store it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidelines.
Airdrie Family Eye Doctors offers emergency eye care services. Patients experiencing an eye health emergency should contact us immediately, go to the emergency department, or call 9-1-1.
Eye Drops For Eye Health
If you use eye drops, you may be experiencing a condition like dry eyes, which can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Eye drops can help treat conditions like dry eyes, but they’re often not the only option. If you dislike eye drops, consider scheduling an eye exam so we can help figure out the root cause of your eye health concerns.
Airdrie Family Eye Doctors is made up of optometrists who care deeply about eye health and giving back to their Airdrie community. Compassion, integrity, and kindness are among our core values. Learn more about our team or book an appointment to meet us in person.
