Allergy to Chloramophenicol?

[Sallyuk]

Hello and Help!
Does anyone have experience of or can advise on reaction to Chloramophenical drops I was experiencing some symptoms of an eye infection so went to my GP surgery where they prescribed the above. Within a few hours of using the drops my eyes became very red and sore . This is not the first time this has happened; last time it was exactly the same my eyes felt dry, gritty and were discharging. I was given the same drops the effect was within a couple of hours but I thought it was as a result of the infection - it lasted over 2 weeks and was extremely painful . Now I think it is the drops that are causing the problem! Has anyone else had problems with these drops, or does anyone know of a different solution I can use ?
Please let me know your thoughts as I can't stand the thought that I will be without my lenses for the next couple of weeks .

Sally

[John Smith]

Sally, rather than the antibiotic, it could well be the preservative in the drops.

See if you can get chloramphenicol as an ointment (you squirt it along your lower eyelid). It's harder to put in, but it may help yuo,

[Andrew MacLean]

John took the words right out of my mouth! I have an allergy to the preservatives in chloramphenicol. for this reason I have chloramphenicol drops dispensed in single dose "minims". These are preservative free.

Andrew

[Sallyuk]

Thanks John and Andrew, although I am still slightly confused! One of you says ointment and one says drops! Surely the minims are the same as what I am using just in a smaller quantity. Also I read that I can't wear my lenses with chloramphenicol, is this true? When I collected the drops I wasn't told that couldn't wear my lenses so I had them in! Will this damage my lenses?
If I can wear lenses with the ointment won't it be all blurry?
I am feeling really sorry for myself
as I feel blind without my lenses.
Sally

[Andrew MacLean]

Not quite the same thing. Chloramphenicol is dispensed in bottles which, once opened, continue in use for up to 4 weeks. The compound therefore includes a preservative to which some people throw an allergic response (including me)

In order to produce chloramphenicol drops that have no need of preservative they are packaged in single dose units so that once opened the contents of the minim are used and the entire container is discarded.

The next dose is a new minim.

so, no need of preservative. I also used to get dexamethasone packaged in the same way.

Andrew

[Sallyuk]

Thanks for the clarification Andrew, things are much clearer now - metaphorically speaking ! I have asked my surgery to order them today, I laughed when they said they have only ordered 20 of them as they are so expensive, do they think they will work faster just because of the cost ! I have also had a chance to speak to my optom and was told that I can wear my lenses if I have the minims . What does concern me is I have put my lenses in today and my vision is really bad - everything is blurry and doubled so now I worry that the infection has changed my prescription . Logic tells me it is probably only transient but the feeling of panic is really bad as it has taken 2 years plus to get lenses that provide reasonably good vision. Now I feel like I am back at the beginning again. Apart from which it is very unsightly to the receipient of my squinting face as I try to bring them into focus ! Do you think the vision will return to what it was once the infection is gone
Sally

[GarethB]

When I was on that stuff I was advised not to wear lenses in the ey concerned until the cause of treatment was over.

[Per]

I have used it as oinment, but just one month post graft. Would not recomment to put on a lens on top of that vaseline-oinment. Best during the night. Seem that Andrew has the best solution for you. I would still avoid using lenses until the infection has been healed.

[Gareth2]

I used the ointment last year before graft and was told to take lens out to give eye a rest and help with infection, I also had bad reaction to the preservative drops so now only use preservative free.

[Anne B]

Hi Sallyuk

I am allergic to Chloramphenical Drops and ointment.
Before being diagnosed with KC i would regually turn up at my GPs with red sore eyes, and they would always say i had conjuctivtas and give me chloramphenical.
It would always make them worse.
In the end i gave up going.
That was one good thing that came from being diagnoised with KC. They started to take my very sore eyes seriously .
Hope you sort out your problem soon.

Anne