Levofloxacin eye drops

About levofloxacin for eye infections

Levofloxacin eye drops are prescribed to treat bacterial eye infections. They work by helping to kill the bacteria which are causing the infection.

Eye infections are a common cause of conjunctivitis. In conjunctivitis, your eye becomes inflamed, feels gritty, and may water more than usual. The white of your eye may look red, and your eyelids may become swollen and stuck together with a discharge when you wake up in the morning. Only one eye may be infected to begin with, but it often spreads to both eyes. Although infective conjunctivitis may clear without treatment, antibiotic eye drops such as levofloxacin can often be helpful for more severe infections, or for infections which do not clear on their own.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start using levofloxacin eye drops it is important that your doctor knows:

• אם את בהריון או מניקה.

• אם אי פעם הייתה לך תגובה אלרגית לאנטיביוטיקה, או לכל טיפות עיניים.

• אם אתה נוטל או משתמש בתרופות אחרות כלשהן. זה כולל כל תרופה שאתה נוטל שניתן לרכוש ללא מרשם, כמו גם תרופות צמחיות ומשלימות.

1. Wash your hands before you use the drops.

2. Remove the cap from the bottle (or the tip of the unit if you are using a single-use unit).

3. הטה את ראשך מעט לאחור ומשוך את העפעף התחתון של עינך כלפי מטה כדי ליצור כיס.

4. Hold the bottle (or single-use unit) upside down near to your eye. Try not to touch your eye as you do this.

5. Apply enough pressure to release one drop into your eye. Only use a second drop if the first drop missed going into your eye.

6. עצום את עינך לדקה או שתיים, ולחץ בעדינות על הצד של האף שלך שבו הפינה של העין שלך פוגשת את האף. זה עוזר למנוע מהטיפה להתנקז ושומר אותה בעין שלך.

7. חזור על התהליך בעין השנייה אם נאמר לך להשתמש בטיפות בשתי העיניים.

8. Replace the cap (or if you are using the single-use unit, throw it away).
   

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from the pack. It will give you more information about the drops and will provide you with a full list of any side-effects which you may experience from using them.

• If your eyes have an obvious discharge or 'crust', it can help if you bathe them with cool clean water before using the drops.

• Use the drops every two hours for the first two days. (Just use the drops while you are awake - you do not need to wake yourself up during the night to put them in.) On day three, reduce the frequency down to four times a day for the next three days. Try not to miss any doses, but if you do forget to put the drops in on time, do it as soon as you remember.

• When you first put the drops into your eye, it may cause blurred vision. This should quickly clear, but make sure you can see clearly again before you drive or before you use machines or tools.

• הקפידו להימנע מהפצת הזיהום מעין אחת לשנייה, ולשאר בני המשפחה. שטיפת ידיים באופן קבוע (במיוחד לאחר מגע בעיניים), ואי שיתוף מגבות או כריות יסייעו במניעת התפשטות הזיהום.

• אם קצה הבקבוק נוגע בעין שלך בעת הכנסת הטיפות, כדאי לסחוט מיד שתיים או שלוש טיפות על גבי טישו ולשטוף את הקצה במי מלח.

• Eye infections can cause your eyes to become more sensitive to sunlight than usual. Wearing sunglasses may help to prevent this.

• If you are using any other eye drops, leave 5-10 minutes between applying each preparation. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and not have the intended effect.

• If your symptoms do not improve or they become worse despite using levofloxacin, you should arrange to see your doctor for advice straightaway. In particular, see your doctor straightaway if your eye becomes painful, if light starts to hurt your eyes, or if your sight is affected.

• אל תלבש עדשות מגע עד שהסימפטומים שלך יחלפו לחלוטין. המתן 24 שעות לאחר המנה האחרונה של טיפות העיניים לפני שתשתמש שוב בעדשות שלך.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with levofloxacin eye drops. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with the drops. Speak with your doctor if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to these eye drops, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

• שמור את כל התרופות מחוץ להישג ידם וראייתם של ילדים.

• יש לאחסן במקום קריר ויבש, הרחק מחום ואור ישיר.

• Throw away the bottle of eye drops after you have finished the course of treatment, even if there is some liquid left. Never keep opened bottles of eye drops to use later.

• Single-use units should be used as soon as the unit is opened. Do not store or re-use opened units for subsequent doses. This is because the units do not contain any preservative.