9 best drops for conjunctivitis

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The conjunctiva is a thin, almost transparent connective membrane that extends from the surface of the eyeball to the inner surface of the eyelids. Everyone, pulling his lower eyelid, can see the conjunctiva in the form of a transitional fold. The conjunctiva not only allows the eyeball to move freely, it produces various secretions, such as mucin and tear fluid. The human conjunctiva is exposed to environmental factors, especially during the period of active wakefulness. But it gets dust, it is blown by the wind, and a bright light irritates it. Therefore, the deep layers of the conjunctiva perform an immune function, protecting the eyeball from the effects of these factors.

It is known that almost a third of all eye diseases are a variety of conjunctivitis, that is, inflammation of this membrane. And among the inflammatory pathology of the eye and its appendages, conjunctivitis occupies more than 65% of all diseases. Most often, there are bacterial and viral inflammatory lesions of the conjunctiva, somewhat less often the cause is allergy and dystrophic processes.

Most often, acute inflammation of the conjunctiva occurs in children, in adults it occurs much less often, but it is more difficult to tolerate. There are also chronic conjunctivitis, which quite often occurs in old age, and in adults of working age often have a professional nature, and arise under the influence of harmful industrial factors.

In the treatment of conjunctivitis, a variety of methods are used, but the most effective is the local introduction of drugs into the conjunctival sac in the form of drops and washes. This rating includes drugs intended for instillation into the conjunctiva, which are used both in adults and in childhood.

What is the principle of this rating of drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis? It is known that childhood diseases are almost always treated with the same drugs as diseases in adults. It is unlikely that even an experienced pediatrician will find a medicine that is used only in children, but never in adult patients. It's all about the age limit. The same drug, only in different concentrations, can be used in both adults and children. And this will not be a different medicine, since the same substance will be active.

Therefore, in this rating of drugs in drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis in children, those drugs that can be prescribed from early childhood will be considered. All other representatives, the appointment of which, as a rule, is possible from the age of 6 or 12 years old will belong to the adult 'drops'. Therefore, most drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis in adults are also used in adolescents (with the exception of NSAIDs).

Important rules for the treatment of conjunctivitis

Typical symptoms of acute conjunctivitis are pain and itching in the eye, the presence of profuse mucous or purulent discharge from the conjunctiva, which usually accumulates in the corners of the eyes. In some cases, photophobia occurs. The conjunctiva of the eyelids and the transitional fold is edematous, the eye due to the injection of the vessels usually looks red. If you pull back the lower eyelid, you can see a mucopurulent or purulent discharge, which must be washed and removed. When these signs appear, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist, since a complication of conjunctivitis can be the transition of inflammation to the eyeball and even complete loss of vision. When treating at home, it is very important to observe the following rules:

1. in the event that the ophthalmologist has prescribed drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis for you or your child, then they should be instilled only when the secretion of mucous or purulent discharge has ceased. In case of acute conjunctivitis and the presence of abundant discharge, in no case should you cover your eyes with a bandage! In the acute form of inflammation of the conjunctiva, rinsing with various antiseptic solutions is first used. These include a weak solution of potassium permanganate, a decoction of strong tea, chlorhexidine, Furacilin or Miramistin;
2. if there is no profuse lacrimation, then only one drop should be instilled into each conjunctiva (conjunctival sac). This volume is quite enough for the complete distribution of the medicinal substance, and two drops are the manufacturer's marketing ploy;
3. if there is eye irritation and profuse discharge of tears, then after 30 minutes the drug, instilled into the eye, is already washed out. In the event that we are talking about an acute purulent inflammatory process, then such a rare instillation and low concentration of the drug in the eye can lead to the development of a drug-resistant pathogen. Therefore, in the case of purulent inflammation of the conjunctiva, it is necessary to bury it at least after an hour, and ideally as often as the instruction advises;
4. at night, when the eyeball is closed by closed eyelids, favorable conditions for the development of microbial flora begin to be created inside the conjunctival cavity. The result will be sticking of the eyelids in the morning and the inability to 'open your eyes' literally. Before going to bed, it is advisable to put an ointment in the conjunctiva, for example, tetracycline eye ointment. It is absorbed very slowly, and will allow you to open your eyes painlessly and calmly in the morning. It is not recommended to prescribe ointment during the day: it will simply interfere with vision, and make the world around you foggy.

Now that the patient knows what to do and what not to do with conjunctivitis, the most popular and effective eye drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis in adults and children will be described. Various drops will be presented, which are used for allergic conjunctivitis, viral processes and bacterial. The rating also includes anti-inflammatory drops that do not eliminate the cause, but reduce the manifestation of the inflammatory process (edema, redness, pain and sting), are used as a means of pathogenetic treatment and significantly improve the quality of life. Finally, various antiseptic preparations that cleanse the conjunctival cavity will be presented. It will be quite enough to present one drug in drops from each group for the treatment of conjunctivitis in adults and children.

Rating of the best drops for conjunctivitis

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best drops for conjunctivitis for adults	1	Vizin-Alerji, Histimet (levocabastine)	340 RUB
	2	Aktipol (aminobenzoic acid)	320 RUB
	3	Cipromed (ciprofloxacin)	132 RUB
	4	Montevizin, Vizin classic, Octylia (tetrizolin)	RUB 160
	5	Okomistin	RUB 180
The best drops for conjunctivitis for children	1	Lekrolin, Cromohexal (cromoglycic acid)	RUB 98
	2	Ophthalmoferon (interferon + diphenhydramine)	260 RUB
	3	Levomycetin	RUB 15
	4	Okumetil	RUB 250

The best drops for conjunctivitis for adults

In this section, the rating includes those drugs in drops for the treatment of various forms of conjunctivitis that have age restrictions and are not used in infants and toddlers up to 3 – 5 years of age. The description of each drug will clearly indicate the minimum age at which you can start dripping these drops. First, antiallergic drugs will be considered, then drops for viral conjunctivitis, for bacterial lesions, anti-inflammatory drugs and, finally, drugs for disinfection, or antiseptics.

Antiallergic: Visin-Alerji, Histimet (levocabastine)

Rating: 4.9

Vizin-Alerji, or levocabastine, is a modern anti-allergic drug in drops for the treatment of various forms of allergic conjunctivitis. The classic signs of such a process will be pronounced itching, redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, the rapid development of lacrimation. Quite often, allergic conjunctivitis develops when exposed to respiratory allergens, with the flowering of various herbs, with food allergies.

The drops are a white suspension of a homogeneous composition, and the active ingredient is a selective, or selective blocker of H1 – histamine receptors. Levocabastine acts quickly and for a long time. Within 5 minutes after instillation, the above signs of allergic conjunctivitis decrease, and the remedy lasts up to 12 hours.

This drug can be used in adolescents who have reached 12 years of age, as well as in adult patients. The remedy is contraindicated in nursing mothers. It is necessary to bury it in each conjunctival sac, after pulling the lower eyelid, one drop twice a day (maximum 3 – 4 drops in 12 hours). Treatment should be continued until the above symptoms decrease or disappear. Vizin-Alerji is produced by the Greek company Famar, and one bottle of 4 ml can be purchased in pharmacies in large cities of the Russian Federation in early 2019 at an average price of 340 rubles per bottle.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of this drug is its fast action, good tolerance, and in case of mild forms (for example, without the development of Quincke's edema), the ability to do with just two drops a day, which is very convenient. The funds are well tolerated, and only in rare cases was eye irritation, as well as blurred vision, noted. However, since this drug is capable of exerting a systemic effect, then in case of an overdose, especially if 6 drops or more are dripped into the eye, which is completely unacceptable, there may be such systemic manifestations as a drop in blood pressure, a sedative or inhibitory effect, an increase in heart rate. But in the event that this drug is prescribed quickly and according to indications, it significantly improves the quality of life, and sometimes it simply saves, for example, an allergic driver who is driving through a flowering field. Therefore, patients with an increased allergic background need to have these or similar eye drops on hand.

Antiviral: Aktipol (aminobenzoic acid)

Rating: 4.8

The domestic antiviral and immunomodulating drug Aktipol contains the only active ingredient – aminobenzoic acid. This agent is not directly antiviral, these drops cannot be compared in effectiveness with real antiviral agents, for example, acyclovir eye ointment, or Zovirax. But since this rating assumes the use of only drops, Aktipol can be used in complex therapy as an inducer of endogenous interferon. It is known that increased production of interferon has an antiviral effect, obtained with the help of the body's own defenses.

With local penetration of drops into the conjunctival sac, aminobenzoic acid is very quickly absorbed. Shown Aktipol in the complex therapy of various viral conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis, which are primarily herpetic in nature. It is necessary to bury one drop at a time quite often, from 3 to 8 times a day. It is recommended to use a combination with antiviral eye ointments at night. The tool is not used in pregnant women, nursing mothers, in persons under the age of 18. This clause in the instructions is typical for many domestic companies that do not spend money on testing the effectiveness and safety of drugs in such categories of patients.

The drug Aktipol is produced by the domestic pharmaceutical company Diafarm, and a 5 ml (0.007%) package will cost an average of 320 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The disadvantage of this drug is the fact that only in combination with specific antiviral drugs, it leads to a rapid decrease in complaints. If it is used alone, then the period of activation of endogenous interferon is sometimes simply not enough to cope with a viral infection, especially if the patient has reduced immunity. The cost of this drug is very high, especially considering that there will be no significant improvement in the first few days of use. But still, if Aktipol is used in complex treatment, then the effect of clinical recovery will be faster, and if this remedy is used in dystrophic processes in the conjunctiva, as an adjunct in the treatment of eye fatigue, when wearing contact lenses, then with such a preventive purpose, Aktipol is successfully used.

Antibacterial drops: Cipromed (ciprofloxacin)

Rating: 4.8

There are a large number of different antibiotics in drops, including effective ones, but if you drop them on every occasion, then the microbes will develop endurance, or resistance. Let them remain reserve funds and are prescribed by ophthalmologists taking into account the bacterial flora. Therefore, we will consider the widely used and still quite effective antibacterial drops – Cipromed, containing the first generation fluoroquinolone – ciprofloxacin.

This drug works best on gram-negative microflora, such as E. coli, salmonella, shigella, enterobacter, but also inhibits gram-positive pathogens – staphylococcus and streptococcus. When the drops are administered topically, they quickly penetrate the eye tissues. Cypromed is indicated for all forms of acute microbial purulent conjunctivitis, of course, after a preliminary period of washing the conjunctiva and removing the purulent discharge.

This remedy is prescribed for keratitis, uveitis, inflammation of the eyelids, or blepharitis. This remedy is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity, during pregnancy, lactation. Ciprofloxacin drops are not used in children under one year of age.

It is necessary to apply Tsipromed, instilling it one or two drops in each conjunctival sac, in case of an acute bacterial process – from 4 to 8 times a day. In the event that we are talking about keratitis, that is, damage to the cornea, the drug is instilled at least 6 times a day. Cipromed is produced by the Indian company Sentiss Pharma, and a package of 5 ml drops can be purchased at an average cost of 132 rubles, which is very inexpensive.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Tsipromed is a wide spectrum of antibacterial action and good tolerance. On the other hand, it should not be used while wearing contact lenses, as it aggravates the infection. Recall that in general, in the presence of an inflammatory process, it is necessary to urgently abandon any form of contact vision correction. This drug is inexpensive, but its effectiveness is not so high, and therefore rather frequent use is necessary. In addition, immediately after instilling the product into the eyes, there may be some blurred vision, and therefore, after instillation, you should not get behind the wheel. Of course, in the case of conjunctivitis with severe symptoms, such as lacrimation and photophobia, he gets behind the wheel, and working with mechanisms is generally strictly prohibited.

Montevizin, Vizin classic, Octylia (tetrizolin)

Rating: 4.7

Montevisin, or tetrizoline, is considered a vasoconstrictor drug that belongs to the class of alpha adrenergic agonists, and just like the ancestor of all these drugs, adrenaline, it is able to constrict blood vessels. As a result of this vasoconstriction effect, swelling decreases, hyperemia decreases, that is, injection of the sclera vessels and redness of the eyeball, and irritation symptoms decrease.

Montevizin should be dripped one to two drops into each conjunctival sac no more than 3 times a day. In addition to conjunctivitis, this drug is indicated for use in tired eye syndrome, dry eyes, and various irritating aerosols such as dust or cigarette smoke. Montevizin is used by adults after swimming, after intense visual stress that caused redness of the eyes: driving a car or intensive computer activities.

This remedy should not be used by patients under the age of six, pregnant women, nursing mothers, adult patients suffering from glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. There is also a list of relative contraindications, so only a doctor should prescribe a remedy. These include thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, damage to the cardiovascular system. The cost of a package in 10 ml of Montevizin eye drops is, on average, 160 rubles, and they are produced by the Yugoslav company Hemofarm.

Advantages and disadvantages

The big advantage of this drug is the lack of addiction, as well as the reduction of symptoms of inflammation without the use of corticosteroid hormones. Montevizin is an inexpensive and fast-acting drug. However, the effect of its use is not as fast as, for example, when using levocabastine for allergic conjunctivitis. It is generally accepted that the duration of action does not exceed 8 hours. The drug, like any of the adrenergic agonists, with an increase in the daily dose, can cause, on the contrary, an increase in the symptoms of conjunctivitis. This is a burning sensation in the eye, lacrimation, the patient's pupil dilates (mydriasis), and in case of an overdose, tachycardia appears, and an increase in blood pressure.

Okomistin

Rating: 4.7

Okomistin (benzyldimethyl-myristoylamino-propylammonium) is a remarkable agent with high antiseptic properties. This domestic invention is a very effective antiseptic known as Miramistin. It is used in large volumes for eye rinsing, for surgical treatment of wounds, for gargling, for urgent prevention of venereal diseases, for treating burn surfaces, for creating coatings on plasters, and so on.

In this case, these are really effective antiseptic eye drops that can be used for a wide variety of pathologies that have a viral-bacterial, fungal or protozoal origin.

It is necessary to apply Okomistin one or two drops in each conjunctival sac up to 6 times a day, for therapeutic purposes. This remedy can be used in adults as well as in children. Okomistin can be used in pregnant and lactating women. Therefore, Okomistin can be safely attributed to a universal remedy for the treatment of conjunctivitis, both for children and adults. These drops are produced by the Infamed company, and a package of 10 ml costs, on average, 180 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The emergence of Okomistin as a separate 'miramistin for eyes' is an excellent marketing ploy: only 10 ml of these drops costs 180 rubles. (0.01% solution). If we purchase a bottle of simple Miramistin for the same purposes, then a 50 ml bottle will cost only 163 rubles. The concentration of the active substance is the same in both cases.

Therefore, you yourself should decide whether to buy a bottle of Miramistin and bury it in your eyes, or buy the same Miramistin in the same concentration, but specially positioned as 'eye drops'. In the first case, you will save, and in the second, you will pay five times more. As for the effectiveness and safety, Miramistin is an excellent remedy.

The best drops for conjunctivitis for children

Children's remedies in drops for conjunctivitis are drugs with extended indications for use in babies. The effectiveness of children's drops is about the same, but the safety requirements are significantly higher, since the child's body has different indicators of metabolic rate, and the drug should not accumulate, or cumulate in the body, and also enter it in too large a dose. Let's consider the most effective and safe drops for the treatment of conjunctivitis in children in the same sequence: from anti-allergy drugs to anti-inflammatory drugs. As for antiseptic drops, then, perhaps, the best choice would be the same Miramistin described in the previous section.

It is necessary to give advice: how to properly instill drops in the eyes of children. Children are not adults, and if too cold drops are dripped on them, they can then be capricious. Therefore, you must first check the temperature of the drops by applying them to the back of your hand, in the area of ​​the wrist, or simply by leaning a bottle of drops against the skin. If there is no thermal sensation, then such drops can be dripped into the baby too. If it is necessary to drip drops to a child before going to bed or already sleeping, then such a warm drop will not cause him to awaken. It is enough just to raise the baby's eyelid during sleep and carefully apply the drug there.

Antiallergic: Lekrolin, Cromohexal (cromoglycic acid)

Rating: 4.9

This agent is used in ophthalmology, including in children, as an exclusively drug against allergies: cromoglycic acid stabilizes the membranes of mast cells and prevents the release of biologically active amines, primarily histamine and bradykinin, which realize allergic effects. The use of Lekrolin can significantly reduce symptoms such as intense itching in the eye, redness and tear discharge.

However, it must be remembered that in pure form, allergic conjunctivitis rarely occurs in babies, and even more so at such a stage that it is necessary to use special drops. It is quite enough to change the diet of a nursing mother, or temporarily postpone the introduction of the complementary foods that could cause these unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, first of all, such a baby must be shown to a pediatrician.

In the same case, if Lekrolin eye drops are prescribed, then it should be remembered that the full clinical effect occurs within a few days or even a few weeks after application. This remedy can be dripped to babies of any age, but those who are under four years old should use it with caution.

You need to bury 1 – 2 drops in each conjunctival sac 3 – 4 times a day. These eye drops are produced by the pharmaceutical company Santen from Finland, and their cost is low: for a 10 ml bottle, you should pay only 98 rubles on average.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Lekrolin is its greatest safety of all antiallergic drops that can be used in children. Most of them have age restrictions, and are not used in children under 6 years old, and some – at a later age. It is inexpensive and reduces the need for dosage drops containing hormones if given to a child. But at the same time, Lekrolin has some side effects. These include a rapidly passing foreign body sensation, blurring, and even a burning sensation in the eye. Therefore, it is necessary to use this drug as short courses as possible, and first of all try to eliminate the baby's allergization.

Antivirals: Oftalmoferon (interferon + diphenhydramine)

Rating: 4.8

These eye drops are two-component. They contain synthetic interferon, which has an antiviral effect and belongs to cytokines, as well as a blocker of histamine receptors. Therefore, Oftalmoferon not only has an antiviral and immunomodulatory effect, but also reduces itching in the eyes, reduces the signs of allergies, puffiness. It helps with many infectious and viral lesions of the conjunctiva, for example, with herpes eyes. It is used with the appointment of one or two drops in each conjunctiva up to 8 times a day. The course of treatment may not be very long, on average, within 10 days. These drops are produced by the domestic manufacturer CJSC Firn, and the cost of a 10 ml bottle containing 10,000 units of interferon per milliliter, on average, is 318 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of this drug is its complex composition, and the removal of symptoms associated with conjunctivitis, both infectious and allergic. However, one should warn against the sole purpose of such a drug as monotherapy for accurately diagnosed conjunctivitis of herpetic etiology. It is known that ophthalmic herpes, or herpetic lesions of the eyes, is very dangerous and can lead to encephalitis with high mortality, as well as blindness.

Therefore, Ophthalmoferon can be used in the case of ophthalmic herpes only in complex therapy, when, first of all, really antiviral drugs with proven efficacy are used, for example, such as Zovirax or its analogues. In this case, antiviral therapy will involve the application of eye ointment, as well as the use of tablets inside. In the same case, if Oftalmoferon is used as a means of prevention, for example, with allergic conjunctivitis in the same place, then it may well cope with mild symptoms in a child.

Antibacterial: Levomycetin

Rating: 4.8

Do not be surprised that in the ranking we recommend using chloramphenicol, and not any other antibacterial drops. The thing is that chloramphenicol is one of the most widely used, safe antibiotics for treatment, including conjunctivitis, which allows you to quickly stop the progression of symptoms. If stronger agents are used, they can blur the clinical picture and cause the development of microbial resistance.

And it is not at all recommended to use Albucid, or sulfacyl sodium, especially in young children. The fact is that it causes a very strong burning sensation in the eye, and after the first instillation it will be very difficult for you to attract the baby to further treatment. It can be considered that Albucid is the tool that destroys the child's adherence to treatment. And chloramphenicol in this regard is quite calmly tolerated and does not cause a burning sensation. It can be applied to each conjunctival sac, including every 30 minutes, and if a more serious antibacterial drug is needed, a doctor will prescribe it. Levomycetin eye drops are the leaders in terms of cheapness. One 10 ml bottle of domestic production (Pharmstandard) will cost only 15 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Both the advantages and disadvantages are obvious. This drug is well tolerated, safe, can be buried in babies' eyes as many times as needed, is used even in maternity hospitals and has an extremely low and attractive price. On the other hand, he alone is unlikely to be able to cope with severe microbial inflammation of the conjunctiva, because resistance to it often develops, because this drug has been used for a long time. But as a means that from the very first day of conjunctivitis can prevent the progression of the infection, while being safe – this is the value of chloramphenicol drops.

Anti-inflammatory: Ocumethyl

Rating: 4.7

This is a combination drug that contains the antiallergic component diphenhydramine, the vasoconstrictor naphazoline, which is better known as Naphthyzine, and the astringent zinc sulfate. Okumetil is indicated for various conjunctivitis, which occur in chronic and acute form and are not caused by microbial flora, as well as viruses. It is indicated for use in allergic conjunctivitis and blepharitis in children.

Ocumetil helps with eye irritation, sensation of redness and itching, with the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Of course, children very rarely develop chronic conjunctivitis, so this remedy is mainly indicated for adults, but a very important fact is that the official instruction allows babies who have reached the age of two to use this drug.

It is necessary to use this remedy one drop in each conjunctival sac 2 to 3 times a day. If there is no relief within three days, then it is necessary to stop treatment and be sure to contact a pediatric ophthalmologist. Ocumetil is produced by the Egyptian company Alexandria, and the average cost of one 10 ml dropper bottle is 250 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Okumetil's dignity is the ability to appoint him from two years. This indication is quite rare, usually anti-inflammatory drops, for example, from the group of NSAIDs are not prescribed for children, But on the Internet you can read that a child can freely use drops such as Diclofenac (Diclo-F), or containing indomethacin, but this is not so . Such drops can be prescribed only to persons after the age of eighteen. At best, the instructions for the funds from this group will say that 'use with caution in childhood'. Hormonal drugs in drops can very quickly reduce the symptoms of inflammation, but they can be used in a child strictly after the appointment of an ophthalmologist. Therefore, a drug such as Okumetil can be considered one of the best for a short course, and considered as an 'ambulance eye care', including in children. At the same time, it does not contain hormones and antibiotics, so its use will not 'lubricate' the picture of inflammation, and will not interfere with making the correct diagnosis.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.