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How long is the shelf life of eye drops?

Abstract: Eye drops can relieve eye fatigue and bring health care to eyes, and are also essential items for many people in modern life. Then, how long can the eye drops be used after prescription? Once opened, eye drops and eye ointment are used for a long time, which may lead to eye diseases, such as corneal ulcer, eye lesions and eye inflammation. It is recommended that the bottle should not be used for more than one month after opening. Let's learn more about eye drops! How long is the shelf life of eye drops?

Eye drops and eye ointment are closed before opening, and they are not in contact with outside air, which can isolate outside bacteria and pollution. Under normal circumstances, the shelf life of eye drops is 1-3 years, which is only the effective use time before opening the bottle, and does not mean that it is also applicable after opening the bottle.

How long can eye drops be used after opening?

After opening the bottle, the bottle mouth will be contaminated with dust and bacteria in the process of repeated contact with the outside air. The bottle mouth touches the bottle cap and eyes, and it will also be contaminated with some dirty things. In the process of repeated pollution, bacteria will continue to multiply and increase, leading to premature deterioration of drugs.

In addition, external temperature, light and other factors will also have an impact on it. If the weather is too hot, it is easy to increase the degree of bacterial reproduction after repeated prescription of eye drops.

Therefore, once opened for use, if it is not used up after 4 weeks, it should be discarded immediately. If you continue to use it, it will be very bad for your eyes. Because the eye drops will contact the air and be infected by bacteria after opening, a commonly known preservative will be added to prevent the drug from deteriorating. In order to reduce the harm to eyes, some eye drops do not add preservatives. This kind of eye drops has a short service life. They will be made into a small system, which can't be used for 24 hours after opening, and some must be kept in the refrigerator.

So how to prolong the service life of eye drops?

Eye drops must be placed in a cool and dark place to avoid direct sunlight, high temperature and high humidity. If the weather is too hot, you can put it in the refrigerator and keep the temperature at 4℃. Tighten the cover after each use to reduce the probability of liquid medicine pollution and leakage. If the eye drops no longer look clear and transparent, or have peculiar smell, particles, turbidity and cotton wool-like precipitation, it means that the drug has deteriorated and cannot be used again.

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If you have a history of drug allergy, or are pregnant, or are taking other drugs, you should first inform your doctor. In addition, because any drug may cause allergies, even preservatives in over-the-counter eye drops may cause allergies. If there is itching, swelling or flushing around the eyes, stop using eye drops and see a doctor.