Period of application
When using eye drops, the instructions of the ophthalmologist should be followed, if available. In the case of non-prescription preparations it is advisable to read the package leaflet in this regard and, if necessary, ask the pharmacist. It is important to note that eye drops containing a vasoconstrictive substance should only be used for a few days, otherwise they can lead to dry eyes.
Burning in the eye with conjunctivitis
When using eye drops on the inflamed eye, instillation can sometimes cause a burning sensation. The reason for this may be the involvement of the cornea in the inflammatory process or preservatives contained in the eye drops themselves. In most cases, the unpleasant feeling remains, but if it lasts longer or leads to additional complaints, the preparation should be changed if necessary or the complaints should be clarified again by an ophthalmologist.
Antibiotics
Eye drops containing antibiotics should only be used if a bacterial infection is certain. Typical strains of bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis are for example staphylococci, pneumococci, hemopphilus and Moraxella species. Too frequent local application of antibiotics to the eye could otherwise promote further inflammation of the eye in the long term.
In addition, long-term antibiotic use could lead to the development of germs resistant to such antibiotics, which in turn could make future treatment of an infection even more difficult. The indication for antibiotics should therefore always be strictly defined and only be given by the ophthalmologist. In addition to drops, an antibiotic eye ointment can also be used. This is often prescribed for conjunctivitis in particular, because it is not flushed out of the binding bag so quickly by the increased tears.
