An eye ointment is a kind of medication used to treat or prevent infections in or on your eyes. It delivers a drug, or combination of drugs, in a semi-solid, moisturizing form. The medicine in the ointment might be used for bacterial, fungal, viral or other types of common infections, inflammation, or other eye conditions.
Since you apply an eye ointment right into your eye, it can work faster than medications you take by mouth. It works by breaking down into small drops in your eye and stays in your eye longer than some other types of treatments. Some ointments are available over the counter, but others require a prescription from your doctor.
Eye ointments are a safe treatment option, although they might sting a bit or make your vision a little blurry at first. Always follow your doctor’s advice on when and how often to use them.
What Is Eye Ointment Used For?
Eye ointments are used to treat or prevent many different eye conditions, says Simon Law, MD, an ophthalmologist at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles. Some conditions include:
- Dry eye
- Inflammation of the cornea (keratitis)
- Inflammation of the eyelid (blepharitis)
- Infections (like conjunctivitis)
- Eye pain after surgery
- Styes
- Cysts
Antibiotic eye ointment
There are several different kinds of eye ointments available by prescription or over the counter. If you purchase an over-the-counter ointment, it may not be right for your specific condition, so always check with your doctor before starting any kind of treatment, Law says. Some antibiotic eye ointments include:
Maxitrol eye ointment. Maxitrol ointment is one of the brand names for dexamethasone, neomycin, and polymyxin B — a combination eye ointment containing a steroid and antibiotics. It’s used to treat eye inflammation caused by certain eye infections, injury, radiation, chemical burns, or some other conditions. It helps reduce swelling, redness, and itching of the eye.
Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. Erythromycin eye ointment is used to treat certain bacterial eye infections, such as bacterial conjunctivitis or bacterial keratitis. It doesn’t work on viral or fungal infection. It contains the antibiotic erythromycin.
Tobradex. Tobradex eye ointment is the brand name of tobramycin and dexamethasone ointment. It is used to treat bacterial infections, reduce inflammation in the eye, and prevent permanent damage. It is not used to treat viral infections. Tobradex contains a combination of tobramycin (an antibiotic) and dexamethasone (a steroid).
Eye ointment for dry eyes
If you have dry eyes — a condition where your eyes don’t make enough tears or the right quality of tears — you might be prescribed an eye ointment for overnight use. Lacri-lube is an over-the-counter ointment for dry eyes. Some ointments may be used along with eye drops for daytime use, as eye ointments are sticky and can blur vision.
Eye ointment for stye
A stye looks like a small pimple on the edge or inside of your eyelid. It’s actually a bacterial infection in an eyelash follicle or tear gland. They usually clear up on their own, but if the condition isn’t improving after about a week, your doctor might prescribe an antibacterial ointment, like erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, to put on your eyelid. This will help reduce pain and prevent or treat infection.
How Do You Apply Eye Ointment?
Don’t use your fingers or a cotton swab to apply any type of eye ointment, Law says. You could accidentally transfer bacteria to your eye and make your eye problems worse. Also, if you have long fingernails, “most likely you’ll scratch the surface of the cornea. It’s pretty painful,” he said. Instead, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands. It’s important that they’re clean before you apply the ointment.
- Hold the tube in your hand. This helps warm the ointment so it flows more easily.
- Look at the ceiling and tilt your head slightly. You want the ointment to flow away from your nose.
- Hold the tube of ointment close (within 1 inch) of your eye.
- Gently pull down your lower lid to create a pocket-like opening.
- Squeeze a tiny amount of ointment (about the size of a grain of rice) into your eye. When you’re done, spin the tube a little. This helps the ointment fall into your eye.
- Keep looking at the ceiling, and let your eyelid go. Softly close your eye for a minute. This helps your eye absorb the medicine. It may sting for a moment.
- Wash your hands again.
Your vision may be cloudy or blurred at first. This is normal. So is mild redness of your eye. If you put too much in, it’ll be hard to see and it will probably feel gunky.
Use clean tissues to wipe off any extra ointment around your eye. Wipe the top of the tube before you replace the cap. It’s important that the tip of the tube never touches anything. This includes your eye, fingers, and bathroom counter.
What Else Should You Know?
There are some things to remember as you’re using eye ointment.
Your eyelashes and eyelids may get sticky. Gently clean both with a warm, wet washcloth or compress after each use. If there is dried residue, you can also wash the area with a little watered-down baby shampoo, then rinse.
You should wait to wear your contact lenses. If you normally wear contact lenses, you shouldn’t use them until you’re done with your ointment. It could damage your lenses.
Your doctor may prescribe both eye drops and an ointment. If so, put the drops in first and wait a few minutes before you use the ointment.
If you miss a dose, apply the ointment as soon as you can. If it’s close to the next time you’re supposed to use it, wait until then. Don’t add more to make up for what you missed.
Putting eye ointment into your child’s eyes might require a certain position. To put ointment into your child’s eyes, have them sit in a chair and tilt their head back. Or they could lie down. For babies, you may need to wrap them in a blanket to keep their arms and legs still.
Ointment should help your eyes feel better. If you’re taking it for the long term and notice that your eyes feel worse, tell your doctor. They may need to change your treatment. Some products can clog your tear ducts over time and make dry eye syndrome worse.
The medicine in your ointment could affect other drugs,vitamins, or natural supplements you’re taking. Make sure your doctor is aware of everything you use on a daily basis. If you’re pregnant, think you’re pregnant, or are breastfeeding, tell your doctor.
Don’t keep prescription eye ointment longer than 28 days. You can take any leftover ointment to your pharmacist to get rid of it safely.
If you have any questions about your ointment, ask your doctor.
Takeaways
Eye ointment is used to treat infections, dry eye, inflammation, pain after eye surgery, and other types of eye conditions. Since it’s thicker than eye drops, it stays in your eye longer but can cause blurry vision. Some ointments are available over the counter and others you can only get if you have a prescription. Always follow the package instructions while using eye ointment, and check with your doctor if you have questions or if your eye problems become worse.
Eye Ointment FAQs
What is simple eye ointment?
Simple Eye Ointment is an eye lubricant that moistens and protects your eyes for conditions such as redness and swelling, scratches on your cornea, or after eye surgery. It’s sometimes used to soften and remove crusts if your eyelids are sticky.
Can I use eye ointment daily?
You can use some eye ointments several times each day, but others should only be used once daily, usually at bedtime. Always check the package label for dosing instructions or call your doctor to check.
Can you apply eye ointment with your finger?
It’s never a good idea to apply eye ointment with your finger, Law says. You could get bacteria in your eye, making any infection worse. Or your fingernails could scratch your cornea, causing pain and other vision problems.
What’s the difference between eye ointment and eye gel?
Eye ointments are the thickest and most concentrated type of treatment for many eye conditions. They come in tubes, rather than bottles. Eye gel used to be in the form of a slightly thinner version of ointment, but “most of the gel nowadays is actually a drop,” said Law. It's mostly marketed now to mean a thicker solution than regular or lubricating eye drops.
