What is fluorometholone ophthalmic?
Fluorometholone is a steroid medicine. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Fluorometholone ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to treat eye swelling caused by infections, injury, surgery, or other conditions.
Fluorometholone ophthalmic may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about fluorometholone ophthalmic?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to fluorometholone, or if you have any type of viral or fungal eye infection, ocular herpes, tuberculosis, or an untreated infection in your eye or elsewhere, including chickenpox.
Before using fluorometholone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, if you have herpes, or if you are also taking an oral steroid medication such as prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, others), methylprednisolone (Medrol), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), and others.
Do not use fluorometholone ophthalmic while you are wearing contact lenses. This medication may contain a preservative that can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause discoloration. Wait at least 15 minutes after using fluorometholone before putting your contact lenses in.
Shake the eye drops gently before each use.
Do not allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, including the eyes or hands. If the dropper becomes contaminated it could cause an infection in your eye, which can lead to vision loss or serious damage to the eye.
Do not stop using fluorometholone suddenly without first talking to your doctor. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment with fluorometholone ophthalmic.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using fluorometholone ophthalmic?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to fluorometholone, or if you have any type of infection, especially:
a fungal eye infection;
any type of viral eye infection, such as ocular herpes;
tuberculosis; or
an untreated infection in your eye or elsewhere, including chickenpox.
Before using fluorometholone ophthalmic, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have herpes. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use fluorometholone.
FDA pregnancy category C. Fluorometholone ophthalmic may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether fluorometholone ophthalmic passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.