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Eye drops for newborns: which ones can be used?
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Indications eye drops for newborns
Indications for the use of such local medications are not limited to the treatment of eye pathology, but drops are also used for preventive purposes.
Among all the indications for the use of eye drops, the most common problem is inflammation or conjunctivitis. How does a child become infected and how is infection possible?
Neonatal conjunctivitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the conjunctiva during the first four weeks of a baby's life. The conjunctiva is a layer of thin tissue that covers the inside of the eyelid and the white part of the eye. For inflammation to develop, bacteria must come into contact with the unprotected mucous membrane. Common causes of this inflammation in newborns are chlamydia and gonococcus. The only way for newborns to become infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea is if the mother has the infection during childbirth. Of newborns born to mothers with untreated gonorrhea, 1 in 3 newborns are at risk of developing gonorrheal conjunctivitis, which carries a high risk of blindness. If left untreated, gonorrhea can begin to cause vision loss in as little as 24 hours. The risk of a newborn getting chlamydia from an infected mother ranges from 8 to 44%. Chlamydia has a low risk of blindness, but can still cause eye damage and usually vision loss if left untreated.
But other bacteria are also believed to cause 30-50% of eye infections, as well as gonococcus and chlamydia. These include: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus group A and B, Corynebacterium species, Moraxella catarrhalis. These bacteria live on the skin, in the lungs, in the vagina, stomach and intestines. Medical personnel who care for newborns may have the above bacteria and not have any symptoms. This means that every time a new person comes into contact with the baby, the risk of infection of the newborn increases. This proves the high need for prophylactic use of eye drops in newborns immediately after birth. These drops are specially designed to prevent bacterial eye infections.
The purpose of prophylactic antibiotic eye drops is to prevent infection of the tissues around the eye caused by bacteria that may be present in the birth canal. The bacteria may be common bacteria or bacteria associated with sexually transmitted diseases. Bacteria associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause permanent vision loss and can also spread throughout the body, causing other serious problems.
Within an hour of birth, newborns are usually given antibiotic eye drops to prevent eye infections. The use of antibiotic eye drops in newborns, either in solution or ointment form, is now considered standard care in most developed countries and is actually enshrined in law in many states. The names of the drops that are most commonly used are Levomycetin, Tobrex, Floxal, and Albucid or Sodium Sulfacyl. The use of these drops specifically for prophylactic purposes in Ukraine is regulated by recommendations and protocols.
There are also viral eye infections and conjunctivitis caused by blocked tear drainage due to a plug in the nasolacrimal canal. In such cases, eye drops for children with redness, conjunctivitis, inflammation can be used all of the above, as well as some others - these are Oftalmoferon, Collargol, Okomistin, Tsipromed, Emoksipin.
Many of these types of drops do not have fundamental differences in use. The only thing that distinguishes these drops is the composition. Therefore, if your child has any problems with the eyes, the doctor can recommend you any of these drops.
Release form
Levomycetin is a drug for local use in the form of an antibiotic of the same name. It has a wide application, both in case of bacterial eye lesions and for prevention. The drug is also used for irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye, redness.
Tobrex is a drop containing the antibiotic tobramycin. This substance has a pronounced inhibitory effect on many aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The action of the drug destroys the bacterial wall and kills the microorganism.
Oftalmoferon is a special eye drop that is an interferon solution, so it is effective against viral eye lesions. The drug can be used against adenoviral conjunctivitis, against cytomegalovirus eye lesions in newborns.
Vitabact is an eye drop that contains picloxidine as the main active ingredient, which has mainly antiseptic properties. Therefore, the drug is mainly used for prophylactic purposes. The drug is approved for children from scratch.
Floxal is a drug that consists of the active substance - ofloxacin. This is an antibiotic with a broad degree of activity against many microbes, which allows the use of drops in the treatment of many inflammatory processes of the eyes.
Albucid or Sodium Sulfacyl are drops that contain the active substance of the same name from the sulfonamide group. The drug has only inhibitory activity against bacteria and does not cause their death. Therefore, it is better to use the drug for prevention and as an antiseptic.
Collargol is a silver-based eye drop that has an antiseptic and decongestant effect. The drug can be used to prevent viral and some bacterial eye complications.
Okomistin consists of miramistin, an active substance with antiseptic and anti-edematous properties. The drug acts as a surfactant that destroys the bacterial wall, and at the same time leads to the movement of water into the intercellular space, which reduces swelling during conjunctival inflammation. Due to this, the drug can be used as a preventive and therapeutic agent.
Cipromed is an eye drop, the main active ingredient of which is ciprofloxacin. This antibiotic has a bactericidal effect on many bacteria, so it can be used for inflammation of the conjunctiva, as well as for the prevention of transmission of infections from mother to child during birth.
Emoxipin is an eye drop that consists of the substance of the same name. The drug has an effect on cells, activates their work by stabilizing the membrane and normalizing blood circulation and metabolism in the cells of the conjunctiva or retina. The drug does not have antiseptic properties, so it is mainly used for degenerative eye damage in newborns or hereditary or congenital pathologies.
Azidrop - drops of the drug azithromycin for local use. Such drops, due to their composition, have pronounced destructive properties on most microorganisms. Use of the drug in newborns only on the recommendation of a doctor, since the instructions do not indicate the safety of such use.
Vigamox is an antibacterial eye drop of the moxifloxacin group. This antibiotic is active against many bacteria, including anaerobic and intracellular parasites.
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Dosing and administration
The method of using eye drops is only local. You need to instill in both eyes, first in the healthy eye, and then in the affected one. In this case, the drops should have body temperature, so before using you need to warm them up in your hand. The dosage of the drugs does not have any special differences - one drop two or three times a day. In the acute period, you can more often, but not more than four times a day for newborns.
Contraindications
Contraindications for use are limited only to those cases where the mother or child has a history of allergy to the corresponding active substance.
Interactions with other drugs
No interactions with other drugs have been observed.
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Analogues of different eye drops allow you to choose not only effective drops, but also affordable and quality ones. Reviews of different drops differ, since each case of use is individual. Therefore, you should not rely on advice, but follow the doctor's recommendations.
Children's eye drops for conjunctivitis and other viral or bacterial infections are one of the main effective elements of local therapy. Immediately after birth, your baby receives eye drops to prevent the development of such infectious problems. Therefore, do not be afraid of this, and before using any drops, consult a doctor, since a wide selection of eye drops can lead you into difficulty regarding the etiology of the eye infection in a child.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Eye drops for newborns: which ones can be used?" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.