If a person feels discomfort in his eyes, his eyelashes stick together after a night's sleep - all this may indicate a bacterial infection. Therapy of such pathologies is not complete without the use of a special antiseptic ointment, which is able not only to disinfect, anesthetize the mucous membrane, but also to fight a bacterium or infection.
If the symptoms of the disease appear brightly and do not recede after two days, then you need to visit a doctor. The doctor will prescribe antibacterial treatment, namely the use of ocular tetracycline ointment. This medication is easily and painlessly applied, so it can be used by people at any age.
"Tetracycline" for the eyes in the form of an ointment is related to antibacterial agents used in ophthalmology for the treatment of diseases that are caused by pathogenic microflora. This tool is not intended to eliminate symptoms, it is used to destroy pathogens, provided that they show sensitivity to the active ingredients of the drug.
basic information
The main component of this ointment is an antibiotic, which is characterized by a wide spectrum of action and is called tetracycline for the eyes. The composition of the described therapeutic agent for the entire volume of the drug includes one percent of this ingredient. In addition to the treatment of infectious eye diseases, this medicine is also applicable for the treatment of dermatological pathology caused by the same pathogens.
Efficiency
So, the main component of the tetracycline eye ointment is tetracycline hydrochloride, which has an inhibitory effect on proteins that are synthesized in pathogenic microscopic organisms. Due to this effect, the dangerous microflora dies, and its formation in cleaned areas is excluded due to the bacteriostatic effect described by the antibiotic.
Escherichia coli is sensitive to Tetracycline for the eyes, along with staphylococcus, Klebsiella, streptococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Spirochete, Rickettsia and Mycoplasma. But the use of this medication is absolutely useless if the pathogens are caused by fungi with the Proteus virus, which are insensitive to tetracycline.
This drug immediately after application to the surface of the eyeballs is rapidly absorbed and may partially enter the epithelium of the skin. It should be borne in mind that the ingredients of the drug do not enter the systemic circulation, which causes a relatively small number of contraindications.
Release format and composition
The tetracycline ointment includes the antibiotic tetracycline along with lanolin and medical vaseline. The tool is sold in aluminum tubes of various volumes of 3, 10, 7 grams. Now find out what the method of use of this medicine is.
Mode of application
Tetracycline for eyes is used only as part of an external treatment, and it is placed under the eyelid of each eyeball in the amount of one thin strip with a length of not more than one centimeter. According to the application guide, depending on the severity of the course of the disease, the medication should be applied after equal intervals of time, which can be from two to four hours. The duration of the course, as a rule, is determined by the attending physician and this can be from several weeks to two to three months, depending on the type of disease.
Indications for use
According to the instructions, "Tetracycline" for the eyes is used to treat the following diseases:
- When a trophic ulcer occurs.
- Against the background of conjunctivitis and blepharitis of any origin.
- In case of ulceration on the skin of the eyelids.
- In the presence of trachoma.
- Against the background of pathologies of the mucous bag.
- In case of diseases of the cornea.
It should also be aware that the presented tool can be used to reduce the risks of developing ophthalmic complications.
The use of "Tetracycline" for the eyes for children
Due to the fact that the drug in question contains an antibiotic, the question may arise in moms and dads about whether it is permissible to use this ointment for the treatment of newborn children. In that case, if we turn to the annotation, it will be strictly forbidden to use the ointment for babies at such a young age. But with a rare exception in medical practice, there were cases when doctors prescribed minimal individual dosages to infants.
The use of tetracycline ophthalmic ointment for babies is justified when an infection brought into the eye can lead to partial or complete development of blindness. As for the age of the baby, from which it is worth using this remedy, one must turn to general contraindications to the use of antibiotics for small patients. In this situation, "Tetracycline" can not treat children under eight years of age.
As indicated by the instructions for use, "Tetracycline" for the eyes is not prescribed together with glucocorticosteroids, because the effect of the use of the latter funds can significantly increase against the background of the activity of the medication, which leads to the manifestation of adverse reactions.
Side effects
In case of non-compliance with the dosage and the presence of increased sensitivity of patients to Tetracycline, the following adverse reactions may be observed in a number of patients:
- The appearance of Quincke's edema.
- The development of severe photophobia.
- The occurrence of allergic manifestations.
- The appearance of nausea and vomiting.
- The development of diarrhea and constipation.
- The formation of blood clots.
- An increase in the level of residual nitrogen in the blood (in case of protein metabolism disorders that occurs as a result of the substance tetracycline entering the blood).
What else does the instructions for use for Tetracycline Ointment for the eyes tell us?
The main contraindications
The basic contraindications to the treatment of ophthalmic diseases with this ointment are:
- The occurrence of abnormal liver function.
- The appearance of hypersensitivity to the components of the ointment.
- The onset of pregnancy.
- The occurrence of fungal infections of the organs of vision.
- The patient's age is up to eight years.
Now consider the analogues of this therapeutic ointment, and find out what it should be replaced if necessary.
Analogs
The presented medicine has several similar drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor if there are contraindications to this ointment:
- The use of hydrocortisone ointment. It is used for any inflammatory eye disease (for diseases of the iris, keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis). And also in the case of mechanical damage and trauma to the organs of vision that occur in everyday life or as a result of surgery.
- Use of Tobrex. This analogue acts as a universal and common ophthalmic agent, which is prescribed for inflammation of the anterior eye. He has a minimal number of contraindications and adverse reactions. It is prescribed even for the treatment of children, but the medicine may be ineffective without additional medications and out of a comprehensive course.
- Medication "Colbiocin". This antibacterial ointment is characterized in that it contains several active ingredients in the form of tetracycline, sodium colistimetate and chloramphenicol. In addition to such prohibitions characteristic of tetracycline ointment, this analogue can also be used in the treatment of septic ulcers.
Next, review patient reviews and find out what they think about the treatment of eye diseases with this pharmaceutical agent.
Reviews
According to the reviews of patients who have tried this drug, the ointment is effective and safe for conjunctivitis of the visual organs and other ophthalmic and skin pathologies in children and adults, including. Doctors give preference to the presented medicine, since its effect and effectiveness are always justified.
As reported in the comments, small patients who are prescribed this drug become much better the next day after the start of use. Regarding the use of the product for children at a younger age than the one indicated in the instructions, you should always consult a doctor, since it is recommended that the drug in question be used for babies from eight years of age.
Doctors, in turn, emphasize that in no case should you self-medicate a child by prescribing an ointment to him without first consulting a doctor.
We reviewed the instructions for the tetracycline ointment for the eyes.