Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Description

Generic Name : DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC

Pronunciation : (dex a meth' a sone)

Trade Name(s) : Losone eye drops

Why it is prescribed: Dexamethasone reduces the irritation, redness, burning, and swelling of eye inflammation caused by chemicals, heat, radiation, infection, allergy, or foreign bodies in the eye. It sometimes is used after eye surgery.

When it is to be taken: Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand.

How it should be taken: Decamethasone comes in eye drops and eye ointment. Often, eye drops are used during the day, but ointment is used at night because it stays in contact with the eyes longer. Your prescription label tells you how many drops or how much ointment to use at each dose.
If you are to use the eye drops, follow these steps:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Use mirror or have someone else put the drops in your eyes.
3. Shake the bottle well for 10 seconds. Make sure that the end of the dropper is not chipped or cracked.
4. Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or against anything else.
5. Hold the dropper tip down at all times to prevent drops from flowing back into the bottle and contamination the remaining contents.
6. Lie down or tilt you head back.
7. Holding the bottle between your thumb and index finger, place the dropper tip as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.
8. Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
9. With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of the eye down to form a pocket.
10. Drop the prescribed number of drops into the pocket made by the lower lid and the eye. Placing drops on the surface of the eyeball can cause stinging.
11. Close your eye for two or three minutes to keep the medication in the eye.
12. Replace and tighten the cap right away. Do not wipe or rinse it off.
13. Wipe off any excess liquid from your cheek with a clean tissue. Wash your hands again.
If you are to use the ointment, follow these instructions:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Use a mirror or have someone else apply the ointment.
3. Avoid touching the tip of the tube against your eye or anything else-the ointment must be kept clean.
4. Lie down or tilt your head back.
5. Holding the tube between your thumb and index finger, place the tube as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.
6. Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
7. With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of your eye down to form a pocket.
8. Place a small amount of ointment into the pocket made by the lower lid and the eye.
9. Blink your eye gently.
10. Replace and tighten the cap right away.
11. Wipe off any excess ointment from your eyelids and lashes with a clean tissue. Wash your hands again.

Special Instruction :
1. Keep the tip of the dropper or ointment tube from touching your affected eye or eyelid, your hands, or any other possible sources of contamination.
2. Follow the dosing schedule prescribed by your doctor.
3. Do not use this medication more or less often or for a longer period than as instructed.
4. Do not stop using this medication without consulting your doctor; your doctor may want to decrease your dose gradually.
5. Contact your doctor if your eye does not improve within several days or if it gets worse. You may need a different drug.
6. If you forget to apply a dose, apply the missed dose as soon as you remember it and apply any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember a missed dose at the time you are scheduled to apply the next one, do not apply a double dose; apply only the scheduled treatment. Then follow your regular medication schedule.

Side Effects : Although side effects from dexamethasone are not common, they can occur. Changes in vision, pressure and pain in the eye, drooping of the eyelid. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. Before using dexamethasone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you have glaucoma or diabetis or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
2. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
3. Throw away any unused part of your prescription.
4. Do not allow anyone else to use this medication.

Storage Conditions : Keep this medication out of bright light and out of the reach of children.