If you have a bacterial infection in one eye or your ophthalmologist wants to prevent it, you will be prescribed an ophthalmic antibiotic. The most common in these cases is erythromycin, which is available in the form of an ointment, is capable of killing the bacteria that cause the infection, and is marketed by many pharmaceutical companies. To ensure its effectiveness, it is essential to know how to use it correctly.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparing to Use Erythromycin
Step 1. Learn about possible side effects
Possible ones include stinging, burning, redness and blurry vision. If symptoms persist and the infection does not go away, notify your eye doctor as soon as possible. Erythromycin can also be responsible for severe allergic reactions and you must stop using it immediately if you notice these symptoms:
- Rash;
- Urticaria;
- Swelling;
- Redness;
- Feeling of chest tightness;
- Breathing difficulties or wheezing;
- Vertigo and dizziness.
Step 2. Assess your health condition and medical history
Be aware of the contraindications of this drug, the other conditions you suffer from, the risk factors and possibly refuse treatment. If you are pregnant, suffer from allergies or are on drug therapy, always inform your ophthalmologist. There are a number of conditions and situations that are not compatible with an erythromycin-based treatment. Between these:
- Breastfeeding: Do not use an erythromycin ointment if you are breastfeeding. According to the US FDA, this drug belongs to category B and is not expected to cause harm to an unborn baby. However, it could enter the bloodstream, transfer to breast milk, and be taken by the baby during feedings.
- Allergy: Do not use this medicine if you know you are allergic to it. Tell your doctor about any adverse reactions you expect to have following an administration of erythromycin. This will allow them to consider lowering the dosage or prescribing an alternative product. Hypersensitivity to this active ingredient presents symptoms similar to those of the allergic reaction, but of lesser severity.
- Certain medications: Taking certain medications such as warfarin or Coumadin can cause interactions with the antibiotic ointment. Tell your eye doctor if you are taking these medications.
Step 3. Prepare to apply the medicine
Remove contact lenses and all eye makeup. Make sure you have a mirror in front of you to see what you are doing or ask a friend or relative to help you.
Step 4. Wash your hands
Before using the ointment, always make sure your hands are clean by washing them with soap and water; by cleaning them before touching your face or eyes, you can avoid further infections.
- Wash your hands thoroughly for at least twenty seconds, rubbing vigorously especially in the area between the fingers and under the nails.
- Use warm, soapy water.
Part 2 of 2: Applying the Ointment
Step 1. Tilt your head back
Bring it back slightly and pull the lower lid down using the fingers of your dominant hand (or the one you feel most comfortable with). This way, you create a small pouch in which to put the drug.
Step 2. Place the ointment tube in the correct position
Take the package and place the tip as close as possible to the pouch you created by lowering the lower lid. At this stage, you must turn your gaze to the other to move the cornea away from the tip of the tube and avoid injury.
- Do not rest the tip of the container against the eye. This detail is very important to avoid contaminating the tip itself; otherwise, the infection will spread more easily to other parts of the body as well or a new secondary infection could be triggered.
- In case of accidental contamination, carefully rinse the tip of the tube with sterile water and antibacterial soap; squeeze the container to squeeze out any surface ointment that may have come into contact with the tip.
Step 3. Apply the product
Squeeze the tube to let out a strand of ointment about 12 mm long (or as indicated by the ophthalmologist); let the filament fall into the lower eyelid pocket.
During this operation, always make sure that the tip of the dispenser does not come into contact with the ocular surface
Step 4. Look down and close your eyes
As soon as you have applied the correct dose of medicine, look at the floor and close your eyes.
- Move the eyeball towards the pouch that contains the medication, keeping the eyelids closed to distribute the erythromycin evenly.
- Keep your eyes closed for a minute or two; in this way, you allow the eyeball enough time to absorb the active ingredient.
Step 5. Open your eyes
Use a mirror to check that you have applied the ointment correctly to your eye and wipe off the excess with a clean paper towel.
- You may have blurred vision due to the drug. Therefore, avoid driving or wearing contact lenses immediately after applying the ointment, as vision is temporarily impaired. In practice, you should avoid any activity that requires good visual acuity, such as driving or operating heavy machinery. When you return to seeing normally, you will be able to resume your normal duties.
- You should regain good vision within a few minutes.
- If your vision is blurry, never rub your eyes, otherwise it will only make the situation worse, as well as cause potential eye damage.
Step 6. Put the cap back on the package and close it tightly
Store the medicine at room temperature, making sure it does not exceed 30 ° C.
Step 7. Follow the dosage instructions
Ask how often you need to apply the ointment and stick to the directions. Most patients need to use the drug four to six times a day.
- Set alarms and reminders throughout the day to remind you to apply all prescribed doses.
- If you miss a dose, put it on as soon as you remember; however, if it is almost time for the next application, skip the forgotten one and resume normal programming. Never give a double dose as compensation.
Step 8. Apply the medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you
The duration of erythromycin therapy ranges from a few weeks to six months. Always complete the course of treatment, as directed by the ophthalmologist. Antibiotics must be taken for as long as prescribed, even if the infection appears to have healed, as the eye can become infected again if you stop taking it prematurely.
- Relapse could potentially be worse than the original infection.
- If you stop taking antibiotic therapy, you also run the risk of developing bacterial strains that are resistant to erythromycin, a serious and ever-increasing problem in the treatment of diseases that require antibiotic drugs.
Step 9. Go to the ophthalmologist for the follow-up visit
After the treatment period with the drug has elapsed, you can go to your doctor for a check-up. If you have any problems or adverse effects, such as intense itchy eyes and excessive tearing, you may be allergic to the active ingredient; in that case, you must immediately do an eye wash with sterile water. Get escorted to the emergency room or call 911 immediately.
If the infection persists even after the treatment prescribed by the ophthalmologist, inform your doctor. He may advise you to apply the ointment for a longer period or indicate an alternative medication
Advice
- Erythromycin is an antibiotic that belongs to the macrolide group. It is a bacteriostatic, which means that it blocks the growth or proliferation of bacteria.
- This active substance is also used in newborns to treat infections, such as those caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which are passed from mother to child during delivery.
- Erythromycin is prescribed as an alternative drug to penicillin allergic patients.
- In general, the pediatrician applies the erythromycin ointment to the eyes of newborns immediately after delivery.
