Carmellose sodium eye drops

Carmellose sodium eye drops are not suitable for some people. For example, check with a doctor, pharmacist or optometrist if you wear contact lenses.

You can use carmellose sodium eye drops as often as you need to. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Common side effects of carmellose sodium eye drops include burning, itching and stinging. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.

Using carmellose sodium eye drops with other medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements is unlikely to cause problems.

Most adults and children can use carmellose sodium eye drops.

Carmellose sodium eye drops are not suitable for some people.

To make sure they're safe for you, tell your doctor, pharmacist or optometrist before using the eye drops if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to carmellose sodium or any other medicine
• wear contact lenses – you can still use carmellose sodium, but check the leaflet that comes with the eye drops to see if you need to remove your contact lenses first

Some brands of carmellose sodium eye drops contain preservatives to keep them clean (sterile) and safe to use for longer. These are safe for most people to use.

Eye drops without preservatives are recommended if you:

• are sensitive or allergic to eye drops that contain a preservative
• have a moderate to severe dry eye condition, where you use eye drops more than 4 times a day
• use more than 1 type of eye drops or eye ointment
• use soft or hybrid contact lenses

If you wear contact lenses, you may need to remove them before using your carmellose sodium eye drops, then wait 15 minutes after using the drops before putting the lenses back in.

The drops may make your vision blurred if you use them with contact lenses. Read the leaflet that comes with the eye drops.

To use carmellose sodium eye drops:

1. Wash and dry your hands first.
2. If you're using a bottle, remove the lid. If you're using the single-dose dropper, twist the top off.
3. Make sure the tip of the bottle or dropper does not touch anything, including your eye, eyelashes, eyelid or skin.
4. Use your finger to gently pull down your lower eyelid and tilt your head back.
5. Hold the bottle or dropper over your eye, look up, and let 1 drop fall into your lower eyelid.
6. Close your eye. Gently press your finger over the inside corner of your eye (over the eyelid) for about 1 minute. This helps to keep the drop in your eye.
7. Wipe away any extra liquid with a clean tissue.
8. Repeat in your other eye if you need to. There is enough liquid in 1 single-dose dropper to put a drop in both eyes if needed.
9. Put the cap back on the bottle. If you're using the single-dose dropper, throw it away.

If you missed your eye when putting in the drop, you can try again straight away.

The most common side effects of carmellose sodium eye drops are burning, itching and stinging of the eyes. These side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and only last for a few minutes after using the drops.

If these side effects continue, you may be sensitive to an ingredient in the eye drops. This could be a preservative, which is something in the eye drops that keeps them clean (sterile) and makes them last longer.

Speak to your doctor, pharmacist or optometrist. They may recommend using a brand that does not contain a preservative, or using single dose (or unit dose) drops or other eye drops for dry eyes.

Carmellose sodium eye drops are safe to use if you're pregnant.

They have been used for many years with no reported problems.

It's OK to use carmellose sodium eye drops while breastfeeding.

They have been used for many years while breastfeeding with no reported problems.

Carmellose sodium is not thought to pass into breast milk, or cause any side effects in breastfed babies.

It's usually safe to use carmellose sodium eye drops with other medicines.

Some medicines, such as antihistamines, antidepressants and diuretics (medicines that remove extra fluid from your body), can make your eyes dry.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any medicines that you think might be causing you to get dry eyes. They may be able to suggest changes to your medicine to help with this.