Opatanol 1mg/1ml Eye Drops 5ml

What are Opatanol Eye Drops?

Opatanol eye drops (generic name Olopatadine eye drops) are used to treat symptoms and signs of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever). Some allergens like pollens, house dust or animal fur may cause allergic reactions resulting in itching, redness as well as swelling of the surface of your eye. Opatanol works by reducing the intensity of the allergic reaction. 

How do Opatanol Eye Drops Work?

Mast cells release histamine, causing the allergy and hay fever symptoms. Opatanol works to stabilise these mast cells and reduce symptoms. 

Opatanol contains Benzalkonium chloride. The preservative in Opatanol, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards.

Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor. 

Opatanol also contains Disodium Phosphate Dodecahydrate. If you suffer from severe damage to the clear layer at the front of the eye (the cornea), phosphates may cause in very rare cases, cause cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium build-up during treatment. 

Do not give this medicine to children under the age of 3 years because there is no data to indicate that it is safe and works in children under 3 years.

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The recommended dose is one drop in the eye or eyes, twice a day, morning and evening.

Use this much unless your doctor tells you differently.

Only use Opatanol in both eyes if your doctor told you to.

Use it for as long as your doctor told you to. Opatanol should only be used as an eye drop.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The following side effects have been seen with Opatanol:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) Effects in the eye:

Eye pain, eye irritation, dry eye, abnormal eye sensation, eye discomfort.

General side effects: Headache, fatigue, dry nose, bad taste.

For a full list of side effects please see to the patient information leaflet.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the above description and patient information leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for “MHRA yellowcard” in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.