Opticrom 2% Eye Drops

What are Opticrom Eye Drops and what are they used for?

Opticrom Eye Drops are aqueous drops that provide quick relief from allergy symptoms that affect the eyes. This includes puffy, itchy and watery eyes. The more common allergens that can trigger such a response include; pollen, animal fur, and dust mites. The active ingredient is sodium cromoglycate 2%, which helps to ease allergy symptoms within 2 minutes.

Opticrom Eye Drops are manufactured by SANOFI, available to purchase in 10 ml bottles, and are suitable for use by adults and children over the age of 6 years to treat allergy symptoms of the eyes including hayfever.

How do Opticrom Eye Drops work?

The eye contains a group of cells called mast cells. These cells are responsible for the eye’s immune response to foreign particles. Mast cells react to invading allergens by releasing a substance called histamine. As a result, the eyes become watery and inflamed. Sodium cromoglycate has a stabilising effect on these mast cells; it inhibits the release of histamine and prevents inflammation.

Alternative Treatments to Opticrom Eye Drops

There are some non-medicinal methods to help combat hay fever symptoms. Some of these may include:

• Wear wrap-around sunglasses
• Keep windows closed when it is a day with a high pollen count.
• Try to have a shower after a day almost straight away. This will remove any trapped pollen grains from your hair and or skin.

There is an extremely large range of over-the-counter treatments for allergy symptoms that you can purchase online from The Independent Pharmacy, these vary from tablets and liquids including Cetirizine, Loratadine and Piriton and nasal sprays including Pirinase and Benacort. If you have tried non-prescription treatments and these have not been effective you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Sources

• Opticrom Eye Drops, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...

Opticrom Eye Drops warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

• You will not be able to continue wearing soft contact lenses while using Opticrom eye drops
• Not for use in children under the age of 6 years
• Speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• This medication may cause you to experience temporary blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until you can see clearly

Please read all packaging and the Product Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take.

How to use Opticrom Eye Drops

Adults and children over the age of 6 years:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before use
2. Tilt your head back and hold one eye open
3. Place 1 or 2 drops in each eye, up to 4 times per day

Avoid touching the tip of the eyedropper to your eye or any other surface. If you struggle with this, you can try resting your hand on the side of your face and placing the drop in the side of your eye.

If your symptoms have not improved within 2 days you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Opticrom Eye Drops ingredients:

The active ingredient in Opticrom aqueous eye drops is: Sodium cromoglycate 2% w/v

Opticrom also contains the following inactive ingredients: Disodium edetate, benzalkonium chloride, purified water.

Opticrom Eye Drops side effects

Not everyone will experience side effects when they use Opticrom aqueous eye drops. However, if you do, they can include:

• Stinging in the eyes or blurred vision. This should go away a few moments after using the drops

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.