Tobrex Eye Drops: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Tobrex Eye Drops contain tobramycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the eye. They work by stopping bacteria from producing the proteins they need to grow, which helps clear the infection. Tobrex is available as eye drops or eye ointment and treats only bacterial eye infections, not viral or fungal ones.

What is Tobrex Eye Drops

Tobrex is an eye medicine containing tobramycin, an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used only for bacterial eye infections and will not work against viral or fungal eye infections.

Tobrex Eye Drops uses

• Treats bacterial infections of the eye
• Used for conditions such as bacterial conjunctivitis, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, dacryocystitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and meibomianitis

Benefits of Tobrex Eye Drops

• Helps treat bacterial eye infections caused by susceptible bacteria
• Commonly used for bacterial conjunctivitis
• Helps reduce infection-related redness, discharge, irritation, and discomfort
• Provides direct antibiotic treatment in the eye to help clear the infection

How Tobrex Eye Drops works

Tobramycin is a fast-acting antibiotic that kills bacteria. It works by blocking the bacteria's ability to build proteins they need to grow, which stops the infection.

Tobrex Eye Drops dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label; do not use more or less than recommended or for longer than recommended. Wash your hands before using the eye medication. Do not wear contact lenses while using this medicine; wait at least 15 minutes after using the drops before putting in contact lenses.

To apply drops: tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid to form a pocket, look away from the dropper, and squeeze out a drop without touching the dropper tip to your eye or any surface. After applying a drop, close your eyes for a couple of minutes with your head tipped down, and gently press a finger to the inner corner of the eye for about a minute to keep the medicine from draining away. If more than one drop is needed, wait about 5 minutes between drops.

Wait at least 10 minutes before using any other eye drops your doctor has prescribed, or use eye drops before eye ointments so the drops can enter the eye first. To apply ointment: tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid, squeeze a ribbon of ointment into the pocket without touching the tip to your eye, then blink gently and keep the eye closed for a minute or two, and wipe away excess ointment with a tissue.

Do not touch the dropper or tube tip to your eye or any other surface to avoid contaminating the medicine. Vision may be blurred for a short time after use; avoid driving or tasks needing clear vision until it clears.

Use the medicine regularly and for the full length of time prescribed, even if symptoms improve early, since stopping too soon may let the infection come back or become resistant to antibiotics. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for the next dose; do not use extra to make up for a missed dose.

Available forms and strengths

• Eye drops (solution)
• Eye ointment

Side effects of Tobrex Eye Drops

Common

• Eye itching or redness
• Mild burning, stinging, or irritation
• Itchy or puffy eyelids
• Blurred vision
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Feeling of having something in the eye
• Increased tearing

Serious

• Severe burning, stinging, or irritation after use
• Eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting or drainage (signs of infection)
• Signs of allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Inflammation of the cornea (punctate keratitis)
• Skin rash, swelling of the face, hands, or feet
• Wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Severe and sudden hives or nettle rash
• Loss of eyelashes
• Lightening of skin
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Erythema multiforme

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Tobrex if you are allergic to tobramycin, or if you have a viral or fungal eye infection
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to similar antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, or vancomycin
• This medicine is not approved for children younger than 2 months old
• Do not touch the dropper or tube tip to your eye or any surface, since a contaminated dropper or tube can cause a serious eye infection
• If you have a nerve-muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson's disease, tell your doctor, as this type of antibiotic may worsen muscle weakness
• If switching from this medicine to a different one, follow your doctor's instructions carefully about when to stop this medicine and start the new one
• Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eye infection symptoms are gone
• It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• This medicine can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a nursing baby, so it should not be used while breastfeeding.
• This medicine can cause blurred vision and may affect your reactions, so be careful driving or doing anything that requires clear vision.

Storage

• Store at 2–25°C (36–77°F) according to the product labeling
• Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use
• Protect from excessive heat and direct sunlight
• Do not freeze, and avoid touching the dropper tip to prevent contamination
• Keep out of reach and sight of children and pets

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Call your doctor right away if you have severe burning, stinging, or irritation after using this medicine, or eye swelling, redness, severe discomfort, crusting, or drainage
• If someone swallows this medicine by accident, seek emergency medical attention or contact your local poison control center
• If too much is accidentally put in the eye, rinse the eye right away with lukewarm water
• Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse

Alternatives

• Gentamicin Eye Drops
• Ciloxan (Ciprofloxacin) Eye Drops
• Zymaxid (Gatifloxacin) Eye Drops
• Vigamox (Moxifloxacin) Eye Drops