Gentamicin + Dexamethasone Eye Drops

This is a combination eye medication containing:

• Gentamicin – an antibiotic

• Dexamethasone – a corticosteroid

It is used when an eye infection is caused by bacteria and there is also inflammation, redness, or swelling.

Components and Their Roles

1. Gentamicin

   • Type: Aminoglycoside antibiotic

   • Action: Kills or stops the growth of bacteria by blocking protein production.

   • Purpose: Treats bacterial infections like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or keratitis.

2. Dexamethasone

   • Type: Corticosteroid

   • Action: Reduces inflammation, swelling, pain, and redness.

   • Purpose: Improves comfort, prevents scarring, and controls irritation during healing.

Common Uses

• Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye caused by bacteria)

• Blepharitis (infected eyelid inflammation)

• Keratitis (corneal infection with inflammation)

• Post-eye surgery to control inflammation and prevent infection

Advantages

• Treats the infection and reduces inflammation in one medication.

• Speeds up recovery and relieves symptoms like pain and redness.

• Convenient compared to using separate antibiotic and steroid drops.

Possible Side Effects

From Gentamicin:

• Temporary stinging, burning, or irritation after applying drops

• Rare allergic reaction

From Dexamethasone:

• Can increase eye pressure (risk of glaucoma) with long-term use

• May delay wound healing

• Can worsen viral or fungal infections if used when not appropriate

Precautions

• Use only under medical supervision — steroid drops must be carefully monitored.

• Avoid prolonged use unless your doctor recommends it.

• Wash hands before applying and avoid touching the dropper tip.

• Not for viral (like herpes) or fungal eye infections.