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Short answer Side effects of dexamethasone ophthalmic: what to do Common questions Related questions SourcesMost side effects of dexamethasone eye drops are short and mild, such as stinging and a few minutes of blurred vision, but longer use can raise the pressure inside your eye, cloud the lens, and hide an eye infection.
How much this matters depends on how long you use the drops and why. A short course after eye surgery or for a flare of inflammation carries less risk than weeks of daily use. If you have glaucoma, a family history of it, diabetes, or a past herpes eye infection, tell your prescriber before you start. Pressing gently on the inner corner of your eye for a minute after each drop keeps more medicine in the eye and less in your bloodstream. Keep the bottle tip from touching your eye, lashes, or fingers so you do not seed an infection into an eye that cannot fight back well.
Side effects of dexamethasone ophthalmic: what to do
Common questions
What are the side effects of Dexamethasone Ophthalmic?
Most people get only brief effects: stinging or burning as the drop goes in, a few minutes of blurred vision, watering, mild redness, or a bad taste in the throat. The bigger issues come with longer use. Dexamethasone drops can raise pressure inside the eye, which can damage the optic nerve, and extended use can speed cataract formation and slow corneal healing. Because they quiet inflammation, they can also let an infection spread, including herpes simplex and fungal infections. Use the course your prescriber set, and ask about eye pressure checks if you need the drops beyond about 10 days.