Eye ointments vs eye drops, why do you find easier?

Meghanebk wrote: »

Ointment is easier for me, but that's because the one I use goes in right before bed. Daytime it may make vision blurry for a bit. I always waste drops and blink too much when they go in. Have you seen video of how to apply both?

Ointment tips if it's thick - stick it in a pocket to warm up to body temp, stand near a mirror, pull down lower eyelid slightly with head tilted up just a bit, aim tube sideways along eyelid pocket (not poking at eye!), close eye and look all around with eye closed to spread ointment.

Yes, I have seen demos on how to put it in, but it's still seems more difficult for me. Thank you for the tips.

tlflag1620 wrote: »

I've never used ointment, so I'm gonna have to go with drops . Ointment sounds awful... Something basically solid in my eye? No thanks!

That's exactly how I feel lol

Madwife2009 wrote: »

Ugh, ointment. Disgusting stuff. I have to have medication (drops) for my eyes every night. Really easy to use. I actually lie back so I'm looking upwards, pull the lower lid down and squeeze the drop in. I was advised to gently press on the inner corners (next to the nose) of the eyes for a few seconds to keep the drops in. Works for me

Good to know

HippySkoppy wrote: »

Sorry that you aren't well.

To answer your question there is a place for both ointment and drops. I suffer with chronically dry eyes and of course this means more infections. As someone else has pointed out ointment is I think a better choice for helping and in particular resolving infections if applied at night and allowed to be in contact with the eye undisturbed.

It does help to have it warmed up slightly before application and I too run a line of it onto the inner side of the bottom lid....sometimes with more success and accuracy than others.

Drops are better for the day but shorter in lasting time and it may help if you supplement with another soothing drop for dry eyes along with the antibiotic drops.

I don't know whether this product is available to you at all but I have found the greatest soothing help with a product called Systane it comes in both drops and gel. The gel has been amazing....even if this one ie: Systane isn't available for you, perhaps after your infection has gone you could seek out drops that come in gel formation. They are kind of an inbetween watery drops and ointment and tend to lubricate and soothe the eyes for far longer than drops do.

Hope this helps and that you are soon better.

Oh wow. Thank you for all that information. Will look into systane.

Well the eye ointment was a complete failure. A second after I put it in the lower eyelid, my eye started burning. I know that can be a side effect so I left it alone. Few minutes later my eye felt like it was on fire, so I washed it out. Then my face started to feel like it was on fire, as well as numb around the eyelid. Took some Benadryl just in case (history of severe anaphylaxis) and rinsed eye out really well. About an hour later I was in ER looking like a puffer fish (wish that was an exaggeration). My entire face was red and swollen to the point I could barely open my eyes, was talking funny from swollen lips, and couls barely move my face. I also had hives all the way down my neck and chest.

Turns out that the medication they gave me (tobrex) does have a cross reactivity with another medication I am allergic to (erythromycin). Usually I am very good about checking things and cross reactivity rates before using them, but I was like-"well she is an allergist and I did tell her all my allergies so it must be safe". Yeah-nope! No longer going to trust doctors and will continue to do my own research.

The ER gave me some steroids (which I know isn't the best during pregnancy, but in this case it was take the risk of the steroids vs take a chance my airway closed. They were a bit afraid to prescribe anything else for the pink eye so called my PCP and he prescribed the drops I always get. He wasn't me to wait 48 hrs after the last does of the eye ointment before using though to prevent any issues.

We called the allergist who was really upset that had a reaction and felt really bad. She said that since the cross reactivity (10% ish) was so low, she didn't think I would react. She said from now on, if there is any cross reactivity between a known allergen and new medication, I shouldn't even chance it.