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Short answer Pregnancy and dexamethasone eye drops: what to know Common questions Related questions Sources**Usually yes: dexamethasone ophthalmic drops or ointment are commonly continued in pregnancy when an eye specialist decides you need them, because only a small amount of the steroid reaches the rest of your body.**
The answer shifts with why you are using it and for how long. Short courses after eye surgery or for a flare of inflammation involve much lower exposure than steroid tablets taken daily for weeks. Untreated eye inflammation can damage vision, so stopping a prescribed drop on your own is riskier than using it as directed. Simple habits cut absorption further: use one drop per eye, close your eye gently, and press the inner corner near your nose for about a minute. Tell your obstetric clinician and your eye doctor about every eye product you use, including ones prescribed before you got pregnant.
Pregnancy and dexamethasone eye drops: what to know
Common questions
Can you take Dexamethasone Ophthalmic while pregnant?
Dexamethasone ophthalmic is a steroid drop or ointment used for eye inflammation after surgery, after an injury, or with certain eye conditions. Only a small amount is absorbed into the bloodstream, so exposure to your baby is far lower than with steroid pills. Doctors do prescribe these drops in pregnancy when the eye problem needs treatment. Use the lowest dose for the shortest time your eye doctor advises, and press the inner corner of your eye for a minute after each drop to limit absorption. Tell every prescriber that you are pregnant, and do not restart leftover steroid drops on your own, since steroids can worsen an untreated eye infection and raise eye pressure.