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About Opticrom 2% Eye Drops
Opticrom 2% Eye Drops information
What are Opticrom Eye Drops and what are they used for?
Opticrom Eye Drops are aqueous drops that provide quick relief from allergy symptoms that affect the eyes. This includes puffy, itchy and watery eyes. The more common allergens that can trigger such a response include; pollen, animal fur, and dust mites. The active ingredient is sodium cromoglycate 2%, which helps to ease allergy symptoms within 2 minutes.
Opticrom Eye Drops are manufactured by SANOFI, available to purchase in 10 ml bottles, and are suitable for use by adults and children over the age of 6 years to treat allergy symptoms of the eyes including hayfever.
How do Opticrom Eye Drops work?
The eye contains a group of cells called mast cells. These cells are responsible for the eye’s immune response to foreign particles. Mast cells react to invading allergens by releasing a substance called histamine. As a result, the eyes become watery and inflamed. Sodium cromoglycate has a stabilising effect on these mast cells; it inhibits the release of histamine and prevents inflammation.
Alternative Treatments to Opticrom Eye Drops
There are some non-medicinal methods to help combat hay fever symptoms. Some of these may include:
- Wear wrap-around sunglasses
- Keep windows closed when it is a day with a high pollen count.
- Try to have a shower after a day almost straight away. This will remove any trapped pollen grains from your hair and or skin.
There is an extremely large range of over-the-counter treatments for allergy symptoms that you can purchase online from The Independent Pharmacy, these vary from tablets and liquids including Cetirizine, Loratadine and Piriton and nasal sprays including Pirinase and Benacort. If you have tried non-prescription treatments and these have not been effective you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
Sources
- Opticrom Eye Drops, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...
Opticrom Eye Drops warnings
Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.
- You will not be able to continue wearing soft contact lenses while using Opticrom eye drops
- Not for use in children under the age of 6 years
- Speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- This medication may cause you to experience temporary blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until you can see clearly
Please read all packaging and the Product Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.
How to use Opticrom Eye Drops
Adults and children over the age of 6 years:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before use
- Tilt your head back and hold one eye open
- Place 1 or 2 drops in each eye, up to 4 times per day
Avoid touching the tip of the eyedropper to your eye or any other surface. If you struggle with this, you can try resting your hand on the side of your face and placing the drop in the side of your eye.
If your symptoms have not improved within 2 days you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Opticrom Eye Drops ingredients:
The active ingredient in Opticrom aqueous eye drops is: Sodium cromoglycate 2% w/v
Opticrom also contains the following inactive ingredients: Disodium edetate, benzalkonium chloride, purified water.
Opticrom Eye Drops side effects
Not everyone will experience side effects when they use Opticrom aqueous eye drops. However, if you do, they can include:
- Stinging in the eyes or blurred vision. This should go away a few moments after using the drops
If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Opticrom 2% Eye Drops reviews
Opticrom 2% Eye Drops FAQs
These drops should not be used by children under the age of 6.
Talk to your GP if you plan on using Opticrom and are breastfeeding, pregnant or may become pregnant. There have been no reported adverse effects, but you should only use this medicine in pregnancy if it is absolutely necessary.
If you have fully recovered from laser eye surgery, it is safe to use this medicine.
These eye drops do not need to be refrigerated – they can be stored anywhere away from direct sunlight, below 30°C. Do not allow the fluid to freeze.
Your bottle of Opticrom should be discarded 28 days after it has been opened. However, it is not advised to use these eye drops for more than 14 continuous days, unless recommended by your GP or pharmacist.
The recommended initial dose is one or two drops in each eye, four times per day. Talk to your GP if you do not notice an improvement in your symptoms.
Yes, these eye drops are safe for those who have glaucoma.
No, you should avoid wearing soft contact lenses during this treatment.
You can wear your soft contact lenses once you have stopped the daily use of Opticrom.
Yes – Opticrom contains benzalkonium chloride, which is a preservative.
Yes, you can use Opticrom if you wear hard lenses. This is because, unlike soft lenses, hard lenses will not absorb irritants such as benzalkonium chloride. Wait at least 15 minutes after you have used the eye drops before you reinsert your hard lenses.
- Keep windows closed in your house or car
- Clean your pets and clothes after they have been outside
- Avoid irritants such as cigarette smoke
- Avoid grassy areas
- Wear protection such as sunglasses when you need to be outside
- Vacuum and dust your house regularly
Still unsure about this treatment?
Ask our medical team for impartial information and advice about any treatment we provide or medical condition that we treat before you buy.
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