Dexamethasone + Chloramphenicol Combination

This is a steroid + antibiotic eye medication used to treat bacterial eye infections that also have significant inflammation.

Components and Their Roles

1. Dexamethasone

   • Type: Corticosteroid

   • Action: Reduces swelling, redness, and irritation.

   • Purpose: Controls inflammation, relieves pain, and prevents complications like scarring.

2. Chloramphenicol

   • Type: Broad-spectrum antibiotic

   • Action: Stops bacteria from producing proteins they need to grow.

   • Purpose: Treats or prevents bacterial infection in the eye.

Common Uses

• Bacterial conjunctivitis with strong redness and swelling

• Blepharitis (eyelid infection) with inflammation

• Post-surgical eye care to prevent infection and reduce inflammation

• Keratitis or other bacterial eye conditions needing both antibiotic and steroid treatment

Advantages

• Treats infection and inflammation simultaneously, giving quicker relief.

• Reduces pain, redness, and risk of tissue damage from severe eye inflammation.

• Convenient — combines two medicines into one drop or ointment.

Possible Side Effects

From Dexamethasone:

• May raise eye pressure with long-term use (risk of glaucoma)

• Can delay wound healing

• May mask or worsen viral or fungal eye infections if used when not needed

From Chloramphenicol:

• Mild stinging or irritation after application

• Rare allergic reaction

• Very rare risk of bone marrow suppression (mostly with long-term or systemic use)

Precautions

• Should be used only under medical supervision — improper use of steroids in the eye can be harmful.

• Avoid prolonged use unless prescribed (to reduce risk of glaucoma or cataracts).

• Not for viral or fungal infections — steroid can worsen them.

• Wash hands before use and avoid contaminating the dropper tip.