Prednisolone (ophthalmic)

Prednisolone (ophthalmic) is a steroid medicine that helps treat eye inflammation caused by allergies, severe acne, shingles (herpes zoster), eye injuries, chemical burns, or other specific conditions.

Prednisolone (ophthalmic) may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Shake the eye drops well just before each use.

Wash your hands before using eye medication.

Tilt your head back slightly and pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket. Hold the dropper above the eye and squeeze a drop into this pocket. Close your eyes for 1 or 2 minutes.

Use only the number of drops your doctor has prescribed.

Do not touch the tip of the eye dropper or place it directly on your eye. A contaminated dropper can infect your eye, which could lead to serious vision problems.

Do not use while wearing soft contact lenses. A preservative in prednisolone could permanently stain the lenses. Use the medicine at least 15 minutes before inserting your contact lenses.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 days of treatment.

If you use this medicine for longer than 10 days, you may need frequent vision tests to check the pressure inside your eyes.

Store this medicine in an upright position at room temperature. Do not freeze.

You should not stop using this medicine suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

You should not use prednisolone if you have an eye infection (including herpes simplex).

You should not use prednisolone if you are allergic to it, or if you have an eye infection (including herpes simplex).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• glaucoma; or
• cataracts.

It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while using prednisolone ophthalmic.

Prednisolone ophthalmic is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Prednisolone may lead to serious side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• small white or yellow spots on the surface of your eye;
• pain behind your eyes; or
• signs of eye infection--swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage.

Common side effects of prednisolone may include:

• mild stinging, burning, or irritation in your eyes.

This is not a full list of side effects and others may happen. Call your doctor for advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Use the medicine as soon as possible, but skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at the same time.

An overdose of prednisolone (ophthalmic) is not expected to be harmful. Get emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if someone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

Do not share prednisolone with anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.

Medicine used in the eyes is not likely to be affected by other drugs you use. However, many drugs can interact with each other. Inform all your healthcare providers about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.