Oftaquix

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Reviewed on Apr 10, 2026. by Mr Craig Marsh Independent Prescriber Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724) Next review due on Apr 10, 2029.

Last updated on Apr 10, 2026.

Product info

Oftaquix is an antibiotic eye drop treatment for bacterial infections.
It can be used throughout the day to ease redness, soreness and discharge.
It contains levofloxacin, which destroys the bacteria causing an infection.

Price checker

Prices include:

Express shipping
24 hour shipping by secure courier.
Consultation + Access to our clinicians
Ask our experts anything you like, any time you want.
Total
£38.95

Save £0.00 each order

Oftaquix: essential info
Oftaquix: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What are Oftaquix Eye Drops?

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. A common type of eye infection is conjunctivitis, which can be either viral or bacterial. 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.

How do Oftaquix Eye Drops work?

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.

What doses does Oftaquix come in?

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 eight 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 four 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.

Treated trusted sources:

Pallo-Zimmerman, L., et al (2010). CE Article 3 CE CREDITS | Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians ® E1 Fluoroquinolones: Then and Now.
Baggio, D. and Ananda-Rajah, M.R. (2021). Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Adverse Events. Australian Prescriber, 44(5), pp. 161–164.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on April 10, 2026. Next review due on April 10, 2029.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

FAQ: Oftaquix

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Are there any treatments similar to Oftaquix?

Answer:

Antibiotics are used to treat a wide range of respiratory infections.^[1]
Bacterial eye infections like conjunctivitis can occur at the same time as coughs and colds, and symptoms that affect your lungs.

Chloramphenicol drops or ointment and Azyter are an antibiotic treatments, and like Oftaquix they're applied directly to your eye. Azyter can clear infections in as little as three days.

Eye infections can also be treated with ointments. A clinician can advise you about which type of medication they feel will clear your bacterial infection effectively.

Will Oftaquix cause any side effects?

Answer:

Around one-in-ten people are affected by side effects when using Oftaquix. This means you might not get any at all. If you do get any, and they’re putting you off using the drops, let a clinician know. It’s likely that any side effects you do get won’t last very long, so they’re usually nothing to worry about.

If you feel like the drops are affecting your vision, or creating a build up of mucus in your eye, then you should stop using them immediately and contact your clinician. It might be that you need an alternative eye infection treatment.

If you have an adverse reaction that seems allergic, such as swelling in your throat or an unusual skin rash, we advise you go to hospital straight away. Allergic reactions to Oftaquix are rare (around one in a thousand), but you should act immediately if you think you’re having one.

How effective is Oftaquix?

Answer:

Levofloxacin has been used to treat a variety of infections worldwide for over thirty years. It has been deemed safe and effective by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is included in their list of essential medicines.^[2]

It is rapidly absorbed, and has a bioavailability of 99%. This means almost all of the medication can be used by your body.

Is Oftaquix available over the counter?

Answer:

Oftaquix is a prescription-only medication. A clinician needs to supervise you starting the eye drops so they know there are no risks to your health.

Some eye drops are available over the counter, but they’re usually for milder infections or used to treat allergies. Antibiotics are stronger than these types of medications, and so need to be prescribed by a healthcare professional or have ‘Pharmacy’ status, meaning you need to have a chat with a pharmacist before they can supply them.

Do Oftaquix drops affect pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Answer:

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on starting a family, you should speak to a clinician before using Oftaquix to treat your eye infection.

It’s not known if using the drops will harm your baby’s development, but levofloxacin can enter both your blood and breast milk in small amounts. This shouldn’t cause any problems, as animal studies do not indicate harmful effects to the baby.^[3] But it’s best to be fully informed about the potential impacts during a time when you might be more sensitive and stricter about what you put in your body.

The drops won’t impact a man’s ability to father a child or a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, so you don’t need to be concerned about fertility issues when using Oftaquix.