After opening the eye drops for a period of time, can they still be used if they have not expired?

"The eye drops that were opened 3 months ago have not expired and cannot be used!"

"How long have your eye drops been in the sun, don't use them anymore."

"Remember to wash your hands before every eye drop."

Life is busy, and the eyes are always dry and dry, and the eye drops that moisturize the eyes have become the eye protection expert of many friends. Whether your eyes are sore from prolonged exposure to electronic screens, or you have eye diseases that require medication, eye drops can come in handy.

But many friends have not thought about how long eye drops can last after opening. How can I tell if eye drops can continue to be used? How to properly store eye drops? These seemingly inconspicuous and detailed questions are closely related to our eyes, let's talk about them today!

Before and after opening, have there been any changes in eye drops?

Unopened eye drops: Their shelf life is generally clearly marked on the drug packaging, usually 1-3 years. This shelf life is set when the drug is unopened and the storage conditions meet the requirements. However, once the eye drops were opened, the situation changed.

Eye drops after opening: They will come into direct contact with the air, and microorganisms in the air, such as bacteria, fungi, etc., may enter the drops. Moreover, every time we use eye drops, the dropper may also be contaminated with eye secretions, bacteria, etc., which will contaminate the eye drops. The shelf life of eye drops after opening will be greatly shortened, generally speaking, more than 1 month after opening, even if it is not used up, it is not recommended to continue to use it.

Director Ye Jianzhang of the Department of Cornea and Ophthalmology of Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital reminded that the shelf life of eye drops is not equal to the use period. Once opened, it is not recommended to use for more than 4 weeks. Due to factors such as repeatedly opening the package and contact with air, the drug may have been contaminated at this time, which may lead to aggravation of the patient's condition, increased risk of infection, allergic reactions, vision damage, etc., and the eyes may appear dry, fatigue, vision loss, redness, swelling, pain, tearing, increased secretions, etc.

Different types of eye drops

The shelf life after opening varies greatly

1. Eye drops without preservatives: use up within 1 day

The feature of this type of eye drops is that they do not add chemicals that inhibit the growth of microorganisms, and the advantage is that they are less irritating to the eyes and are closer to the natural physiological environment of the human body, especially for those with sensitive eyes. But because of this, they have a very short shelf life after opening, and it is generally recommended to use them up within 1 day. To match this feature, most of these eye drops are individually packaged, and the dosage of each bottle is usually small, just enough for a day's use.

2. Eye drops containing preservatives

The effect of preservatives for about a month is to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, and to a certain extent extend the shelf life of eye drops after opening. Most eye drops containing preservatives have a shelf life of about a month after opening (if stored properly). However, over time, the effectiveness of preservatives gradually weakens, and the inhibitory effect on microorganisms decreases.

3. Special eye drops

There are also some special eye drops according to the doctor's advice, which have extremely high requirements for storage conditions and safety of use, and some products can only be used for 2-3 weeks after opening (if stored correctly). When using these eye drops, patients must strictly follow the doctor's instructions and the requirements of the drug instructions.

How can you tell if eye drops are workable?

In addition to determining whether eye drops can still be used based on the expiration date, observing the appearance of eye drops is also an important method. Most eye drops are clear and clear, a few are suspensions (shake well before use).

If you find that the eye drops have become cloudy, flocculents, precipitation, or changes in color, such as from colorless to yellowish or even darker, then the eye drops can no longer be used regardless of whether they are within the expiration date. These abnormalities indicate that the eye drops have been contaminated or deteriorated, and the use of such eye drops not only fails to achieve therapeutic results, but can also cause serious damage to the eyes.

Proper storage and use of eye drops

01 Storage: Place in a cool place and avoid direct sunlight

To ensure the safety and effectiveness of eye drops after opening, proper storage and use methods are essential. When storing eye drops, it is generally recommended to place them in a cool place to avoid direct sunlight, and some special drugs require low temperature storage, which can be placed in the refrigerator for refrigeration, and the specific placement can refer to the drug instructions. Both UV rays and high temperatures in sunlight can accelerate the deterioration of eye drops, affecting their quality and efficacy.

02 Use: Keep hands clean and drop into the conjunctival sac

When using eye drops, first keep your hands clean to avoid bacteria on your hands contaminating the eye drops. During use, be careful not to touch the eyes, eyelids or other objects, when dropping eye drops, you can gently open the lower eyelid, drop the eye drops into the conjunctival sac, and then gently close the eyes to allow the eye drops to be fully distributed in the eyes.

▲There are also detailed precautions for eye drops, follow the nurses of Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital to learn how to drop eye drops correctly▲

Director Ye Jianzhang reminded:

When we use eye drops, we must carefully read the drug instructions, carefully follow the doctor's instructions, and strictly follow the specified period of use and methods. If you experience abnormal symptoms such as eye discomfort, pain, redness and swelling during the use of eye drops, you should stop using them immediately and seek medical attention in time to find out the cause and treat them accordingly.