Levomycetin eye drops are prescribed not only for adults, but also for children - if appropriate indications are available. The active substance in them is chloramphenicol (the international name of the drug is “Levomycetin”). Drops, in addition to it, contain boric acid and purified water for injection.
“Chloramphenicol” is an antibiotic effective against many bacteria that cause quite serious diseases - in particular, trachoma. Before the discovery of antibiotics and the start of their use, its consequence was complete blindness: trachoma caused by chlamydia affected the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye. “Levomycetin” has a detrimental effect on the causative agents of psittacosis, an acute disease that causes damage to the nervous system, lungs, liver and spleen. It is effective against strains of bacteria that are insensitive to other antibiotics - penicillin, streptomycin, as well as sulfonamide drugs. “Levomycetin” - drops or tablets - is not addictive, and resistance to it in pathogens of various diseases develops extremely slowly.
This drug is used in the treatment of eye diseases: conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva, or the mucous membrane of the eye), blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids), as well as keratitis - inflammation of the cornea of the eyes, a serious disease that can lead to decreased vision. It manifests itself in pain and redness, as well as clouding of the cornea. Patients feel pain in the eyes, it hurts them to look at the light. Its initial symptoms are thus similar to manifestations of conjunctivitis, a less serious disease. Some patients may, on their own initiative, start treatment with Levomycetin. Drops will bring temporary relief, but do not hesitate to consult a doctor. In the absence of proper treatment, an eyesight may form.
“Levomycetin” (drops) in the treatment of adults and children is used in the same way: one drop in each eye, three times a day. Duration - from five to fifteen days, depending on the diagnosis. It should be understood: with a longer (over three weeks) use of chloramphenicol eye drops may lead to changes in hematopoiesis. Therefore, you should not use the drug at your own discretion without consulting your doctor.
“Chloramphenicol” (drops) penetrates well into the tissues of the eye and accumulates in the cornea and iris, as well as the vitreous body, without affecting the lens. It quickly relieves the symptoms of inflammatory eye diseases, but its use should not be discontinued earlier than indicated by the doctor, otherwise the disease may return.
With individual sensitivity to chloramphenicol, this drug can cause minor local allergic reactions. This should be taken into account when using Levomycetinum (eye drops) for newborns. With caution, they are prescribed for children up to two years, as well as for allergy sufferers. “Chloramphenicol” is not prescribed for patients with impaired liver and kidney function and hematopoiesis. Nursing mothers and pregnant women are allowed to use the drug in extreme cases - due to the lack of confirmed data on its effect on the child's body or fetus.
Sometimes during treatment with “Levomycetin” some blurred vision may be observed, a noticeable decrease in its severity. In this case, you need to rinse your eyes and refrain from using the drug "Levomycetin" before consulting a doctor: its dosage may have been violated. This phenomenon is not dangerous and will soon pass by itself.
Before using the drug, the patient must remove contact lenses. They can’t be worn for half an hour after instilling "Levomycetin" in the eyes.