Originally Posted By: haertig
Originally Posted By: Arney
...the concentration of the antibacterial ingredients appears to be equivalent between the regular and opthalmic versions...

It's not just the drug, it's the delivery agent as well. A petroleum-based delivery agent may be just fine for your skin, but not so good for your eyes. While it may not harm your eyes (I don't know this), it may be uncomfortable or not disolve well in tears and you then end up looking through a smeared haze for a while. I would recommend using medicines as they are intended to be used by the manufacturers in cases like this.

Eye drops are less effective than eye ointments, which are petrolatum based, cuz the medicine sticks around longer. Eyes are a special kind of skin, and usually heal up remarkably well...until they don't, in which case, stubborn infection in one eye is sometimes best treated by enucleation (removal) of the infected eye, to prevent transmission to the healthy eye...Be careful when treating eyes. ER docs mostly don't treat eyes unless the problem is real simple: they call for a specialist consult early and loudly, cuz eyes are tricky, delicate, and highly regarded by their owners. I heartily endorse the final thought: use medications cautiously and as directed, watch the patient with cat-like intensity for worsening symptoms, and get skilled help sooner rather than later.
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