Eye Drop Products

Eye drops come in many different varieties, and can be sold both over the counter and by prescription. Different eye drops are designed to address many different conditions and ailments related to the eye. They range from simple over the counter products like Visine, designed to relive dry and itchy eyes, to prescription products that address more serious ailments like glaucoma.

The most common over the counter eye drops are designed to treat the symptoms of allergic reactions – generally the red and itchy eyes associated with hay fever. These drops are a type of antihistamine. They work by inhibiting the histamine output and receptors in the eye. Histamine is a natural chemical that your body produces in response to foreign organisms, and sometimes an overproducing of histamine in response to an organism can result in the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Antihistamine eye drops slow this production of histamine, which can usually relive symptoms. In addition, many over the counter eye drops contain a medical ingredient that constricts blood vessels in the eye, which reduces the redness. Keep in mind that in rare cases the very chemical in the antihistamine eye drop can actually worsen the allergic reaction. When this happens a physician will usually recommend prescription eye drops.

It is important that eye drops are administered properly, and compared to other common medications this can be difficult. Unless you wear contacts or are otherwise used to touching your eye, you’ll find eye drops difficult to administer at first. When administering eye drops, follow these steps:

1) Wash your hands before you start - this is of prime importance when dealing with your eye.

2) Tilt your head back.

3) Press your finger gently on the space just below your lower eye lid, this will pull the lower eyelid slightly away from the eye, creating a small space.

4) Drop the eye drop into this space, close the eye, and don’t blink for a few seconds.

If you follow these steps you should find it easier to administer eye drops for the first time.

As with all antihistamine medications, keep in mind the eye drops only relive the symptoms of an allergic reaction, but do nothing address the cause of it. Anyone who finds themselves having to take over the counter eye drops repeatedly and on a regular bases should consult a physician, which will in many cases result in a prescription for different eye drops.