Oftaquix

The active ingredient in Oftaquix eye drops is levofloxacin, which belongs to a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones (sometimes just called quinolones). They work by destroying bacteria that grows on your eyes and causes infections.

Not all eye infections are bacterial. Some are viral, and can clear up without the need for treatment. Allergies to pollen, mold spores and pet hair can also aggravate your eyes and cause conjunctivitis (a type of eye infection) to develop. Common symptoms include redness, soreness and itching.

Most infections share these symptoms, but bacterial conjunctivitis can present them in a more severe way. Eye watering can be more persistent than it is during milder infections, and discharge from the eyes can be thicker. Sometimes, a crust can form around your eyelids overnight, making them difficult to open the following morning.
Oftaquix works by targeting bacteria and fighting your infection.

Quinolones were first introduced in 1962 and were discovered when alterations were made to antimalarial drugs. They were modified again in the 1980s to become fluoroquinolones (by adding a fluorine molecule).^[1]
They are now used worldwide to treat pneumonia, urinary tract and gonococcal infections.^[2]
Fluoroquinolones have an antimicrobial effect. Levofloxacin inhibits bacterial type II topoisomerases — DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. These topoisomerases are enzymes that are needed for bacterial DNA replication, so inhibiting them means the bacteria responsible for your eye infection can’t survive.

Oftaquix drops are applied directly to your eye, and can destroy bacteria to clear your infection. They can be used every two hours, and should clear conjunctivitis within five days.

A bottle of Oftaquix contains 5mg of levofloxacin per milliliter. It is applied as drops directly to the outer surface of your eye.

The usual doses are as follows:

Days 1-2

One or two drops in the eye that requires treatment, every 2 hours. You can only apply the drops a maximum of 8 times a day.

Days 3-5

One or two drops in the affected eye, every 2 hours. For days three to five, you can only use the drops 4 times a day.

You might find it helpful to get someone else to apply the drops for you. This reduces the risk of your eye coming into direct contact with your hands, or the bottle as you dispense the drops.

Treatment shouldn’t last any longer than five days. If your infection shows no sign of clearing at this point, get in touch with a clinician about the next best steps to take.

Oftaquix drops are applied the same way whether you’re dispensing them yourself, or getting someone else to do it for you. Whoever is handing the medication should wash their hands before beginning.

• Open the bottle, being careful to not touch your eye directly with the tip of the dropper.
• Tilt your head backwards as if looking at the ceiling, holding the bottle over your eye.
• Pull your lower eyelid down, while looking up. Squeeze a drop into the space between the surface of your eye and the eyelid.
• Close your eye and gently press on the corner of your eye for 60 seconds. Try to stop the drop draining down your tear duct.If any solution has spilled onto the skin around your eye, wipe it off.Place the cap back onto the bottle and tighten it.

If you need another drop, you can repeat these steps, making sure your hands are clean. You should never try to dispense Oftaquix drops into the interior eyeball, and always use them as a clinician has advised you.

What should I do if I make a mistake taking Oftaquix?

You shouldn’t make a mistake using Oftaquix if you follow the instructions that come with your medication. If you dispense more drops than you need, you can rinse your eyes out with water and then wait until your next dose is due.

If you forget to take a dose, there’s no need to make up for it by doubling your dose. Instead, just carry on with your usual routine and get back to your normal dose schedule. Because the drops are applied every two hours, it might help you to set an alarm for each time you need to apply them.