Reviewed by Dr. Arjun Mehta, PharmD — Head Pharmacist. Updated May 2025.
Eye conditions
Most treatments
Common cause
Eye medicines are usually delivered as drops because the eye absorbs them quickly through the ocular surface. The most common needs are dry-eye relief, allergy treatment, infection (conjunctivitis), and the long-term medication of conditions like glaucoma.
Be careful with technique: wash hands, don’t touch the dropper to the eye, and leave 5 minutes between different drops. Preservative-free formulations are better for long-term daily use.
For dry eye and screen fatigue. Preservative-free preferred for frequent use.
Chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin. Bacterial conjunctivitis or pre/post-eye surgery.
Latanoprost, timolol. Lower eye pressure. Used daily for life to preserve vision.
Typically 5–7 days for simple conjunctivitis. Continue 48 hours after symptoms resolve.
Glaucoma damage cannot be reversed. Drops only protect remaining vision, so any gap allows progression
No. Sharing risks cross-contamination and isn’t safe medical practice.

/our-pharmacists/arjun-mehta/ — Reviewed May 2025
This guide is reviewed every 12 months or sooner when clinical guidance changes. If you have a specific medical question, call our pharmacist team — we answer the phone, not a bot.