Eye Drops use After One Month

May people have a question "How long after opening is it safe to use a bottle of eye drops? Or, Can you tell me the standard recommendation for the shelf-life of eye drops once opened?". So here in this post I have mentioned this...

All eye drops have an expiration date, which refers to the shelf life of a drop which has not been opened. Eye drops have preservatives in them to ensure the sealed product remains sterile until the expiry date.

However, eye drops, once opened and used, risk being contaminated with the normal bacteria that live on the eyelids. Most bottles of eye drops contain preservatives which limit bacterial growth but not entirely. The older the bottle, the greater the chance that it has been contaminated, and the longer time the bacteria has to grow.

Never use someone else's prescription eye drops. Some people mistakenly think that all eye drops are similar, but they are not.

So an sealed (unopened) bottle of eye drops can be used up to its expiration date, but if a bottle is opened today, you should throw it away after four to six weeks, even if the expiration date is 12 or 14 months from now.

Safety tips:
• So wash your hands before installation of an eye drops. To avoid contamination, do not touch the dropper tip or let it touch your eye or any other surface.

• Tilt your head back, look upward, and pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch. Hold the dropper directly over the eye and place 1 drop into the pouch.

• Place one finger at the corner of the eye near the nose and apply gentle pressure. This will prevent the medication from draining away from the eye.

• Do not rinse the dropper. Replace the dropper cap tightly after each use.

• If you are using another kind of eye medication (e.g., drops or ointments), wait at least 5 minutes before applying other medications. Use eye drops before eye ointments.

• If your condition persists or worsens after 72 hours (3 days), or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, stop using medication and seek immediate medical attention.