Epinephrine Ophthalmic

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you epinephrine. epinephrine is used as an irrigating solution during eye surgery.

Consult your pharmacist.

How to use Epinephrine Drops

Consult your pharmacist.

Consult your pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Consult your pharmacist.

Consult your pharmacist.

Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Applies to epinephrine ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution

Ocular

Chronic ophthalmic application of epinephrine to aphakic patients may cause maculopathy in up to 28% of patients (macular edema, vascular spasm, hemorrhages), which can result in distorted vision, central scotoma, and/or loss of visual acuity. This maculopathy can reverse within six months upon drug withdrawal.

A single case of madarosis (loss of eyelashes) has been associated with topical epinephrine. After the therapy was discontinued, the lashes grew back.[Ref]

Ocular side effects have included stinging and burning, lacrimation, and local discomfort upon application in up to 62% of patients. Browache, eye pain/ache, conjunctival hyperemia, allergic lid reactions, mydriasis, blurry vision, photophobia have been reported. Ocular cicatrization, pemphigoid, loss of eyelashes, and maculopathy have been reported rarely. Prolonged use can cause corneal edema, refractoriness of superficial blood vessels to constrict, and deposition of brownish oxidation products of epinephrine in the palpebral conjunctiva.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects associated with ocularly applied epinephrine have rarely included palpitations, tachycardia, extrasystoles, premature ventricular depolarizations, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects associated with ocularly applied epinephrine have included faintness, trembling, pallor, headache, tremors, and perspiration.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions after ocular application may present as diffuse vascular engorgement, follicular hypertrophy, chemosis, conjunctivitis, and/or iritis.[Ref]

General

In general, systemic side effects after topical application of epinephrine to the eye are more likely if the corneum is damaged or permeability is increased by tonometry, surgery, inflammation, or topical application of a local anesthetic.[Ref]

Some side effects of epinephrine ophthalmic may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.