Contains Chloramphenicol to target bacterial eye infections suitable for children aged 2 years and over

Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment is a topical ointment for administration to the eye only. It contains an antibiotic called chloramphenicol and is used to treat bacterial infections that affect the front surfaces of the eye.

The most common type of infection in this area is called acute bacterial conjunctivitis. When you have acute bacterial conjunctivitis the white part of one or both of your eyes will be red and /or your eyelids will be red or swollen. There will be a sticky discharge, which can make the eye difficult to open in the morning and the eye may feel ‘gritty’ or ‘irritated’.

Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment is not suitable for treating eye infections that have spread to the deeper layers of the eye coverings or into the fluid within the eyeball. Antibiotic tablets or injections are needed to treat these deeper, more serious infections.

It is important that you read and fully understand the Patient Information Leaflet before purchasing this item.

What is Conjunctivitis and Blepharitis?

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a very common condition that causes redness, inflammation of the white part of the eye and is often known as red eye or pink eye. It affects the white area of the eye and even if only affecting one eye will normally spread to both eyes within a few hours. Other symptoms are itchiness and watering of the eye and sometimes it also produces a sticky coating on the eyelashes when Conjunctivitis has been caused by an allergy (e.g pollen or smoke). The condition is particularly common in children.

There are four main causes of Conjunctivitis, but the two main ones are Bacterial and Viral Conjunctivitis.

Bacterial – this is the most serious, is more common than the viral version, mainly affects children and persons over 50. It can be highly contagious and normally requires antibiotic treatment to resolve – Chloramphenicol antibiotic eye ointment is targeted especially for this form of Conjunctivitis.

Viral – as with all virus borne conditions no antibiotics or eye drops will cure a viral infection so just like a cold it needs to be left to run its course. There are many treatments to help alleviate the symptoms from drops to compresses but none will actually cure the problem.

The other two forms of Conjunctivitis are Allergic and Chemical.

Allergic – caused by an irritant such as pollen, cat hairs etc. The remedy is to remove or avoid the irritant. Various eye drops, eye washes, cold compresses can relieve mild forms but in severe cases and unavoidable regular contact (e.g. a family pet) steroidal eye drops will be required that will need to be prescribed.

Chemical – This is often a mild condition e.g. from chlorine in a swimming pool and will soon go once the irritant is no longer present but if caused by any chemical spill getting into the eye then you need to immediately flush the eye for several minutes with a lot of water and then seek medical help from a doctor or go to A&E as soon as possible.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is inflammation of the rims of the eyelids where they become red and sore. Blepharitis is a common condition in both children and older persons of over 50. The cause is normally a bacteria so Chloramphenicol ointment is particularly suitable as it attacks and destroys the bacteria both on the outside and inside of the eyelid.

It is often a chronic (meaning long term) condition meaning once it develops it can cause repeated episodes.

Stye

A Stye is a bacterial infection of an oil gland in the eyelid.

In the majority of cases the Stye will go within a few days.

The Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment can help with the infection and is often prescribed by a doctor.

How to use

Always use Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The usual dose for adults, children and infants of all age groups is as follows:

A small amount of ointment to be applied into the affected eye (every three hours or more frequently if required), as directed by your doctor.

Remember, this medicine is for YOU. Do not give it to someone else, even if their symptoms are the same as yours. This medicine may harm them.

A different dose may be necessary in newborn babies to reduce the risk of side-effects. The maximum length of treatment in newborn babies is 10-14 days

Chloramphenicol may not work against certain types of infections. If your symptoms are not getting better you should tell your doctor immediately. If you use Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment for a long time, your doctor may want to take blood samples to make sure the chloramphenicol has not affected your blood in any way.

Always wash your hands before applying the eye ointment. Apply your eye ointment in the following way:

1. Remove the cap.
2. Take special care that the nozzle of the tube does not touch your eye, the skin around your eye or your fingers.
3. You may use the mirror to help you seeing what you are doing.
4. Place the nozzle of the tube close to your eye and gently pull the lower eyelid downwards and look up.
5. Squeeze the tube gently and apply about 1 cm of ointment to the space between the lower eyelid and the eye.
6. Close your eye for a moment.
7. Where both eyes are to be treated repeat step from 3 to 6.
8. Replace the cap securely after use.

Ingredients

The active ingredient is chloramphenicol. The ointment contains 1% chloramphenicol which is equivalent to 10 mg of chloramphenicol per gm. This product also contains liquid paraffin and white petroleum as excipient

Precautions

Do not use Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment if you:

• wear any type of contact lenses.

Take special care with Chloramphenicol Eye ointment if you:

• are sensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients in this product
• are pregnant or intending to become pregnant
• are breast-feeding
• are taking other medicines
• you have problems with your blood (in particular very low numbers of blood cells) after taking chloramphenicol
• or anyone in your family, have had blood or bone marrow problems

Taking other medicines:

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are applying any other type of eye drops or eye ointment before you start to use this medicine. Your medicine may affect their action and could alter their effect. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without any prescription.

Other special warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment should not be used by pregnant women or women who are breast-feeding unless necessary. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should discuss this with your doctor before you start to apply the ointment.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or operate machines if you have blurred vision after using Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment. You should wait until this clears before driving or using machines.

Side effects when using

Like all medicines, Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. As with other eye preparations, you may occasionally experience eye irritation or visual blurring after initial insertion. If this persists, increases, or if you notice any other changes, stop using your medicine and contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Sometimes, when an antibiotic is used for a long time, other types of bacteria or fungi, which are not killed, take over from the original infection. This may seem as if the original infection has not cleared up or has got worse.

Therefore, if you do not get better, tell your doctor at once, he/she may need to change your treatment. If you notice any of the following side effects:

• Breathing problems
• fever
• swelling of your face, lips or tongue
• rash with swelling of the skin

Very rare:

• bruising, bleeding, infections and weakness.

You must stop using the ointment and tell your doctor immediately, if any of the side effects gets serious or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leafl­et, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed here You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at:   www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this product.

Other Information

If you need more advice consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.