Optilast Eye Drops

Optilast Eye Drops Online

Optilast contains the active substance azelastine hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of medicines called
antiallergics (antihistamines). Antihistamines work by preventing the effects of substances such as histamine that the body produces as part of an allergic reaction. Azelastine has been shown to reduce inflammation of the eye.

Optilast can be used to treat and prevent eye disorders which you get with hayfever (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis) in adults and children aged 4 years and above.

Optilast can be used for eye disorders caused by an allergy to substances such as house dust mites or animal hair (perennial allergic conjunctivitis) in adults and children aged 12 years and above.

Side Effects of Optilast Eye Drops

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

These effects include:

• Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Slight irritation (burning, itching, watering) in the eyes after putting in Optilast. This should not last long.
• Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): A bitter taste in your mouth. This should quickly disappear especially if you have a soft drink.
• Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10000 people): An allergic reaction (such as rash and itching).

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Directions of Use for Optilast Eye Drops

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Optilast should only be applied to the eyes.

The recommended dose is:

Eye disorders caused by hayfever (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis)

• Use in adults and children aged 4 years and above
• The usual dose is one drop in each eye in the morning and evening.

If you anticipate contact with pollen, the usual dose of Optilast may be taken as a preventive measure before going outside.

Eye disorders caused by an allergy (non-seasonal (perennial) allergic conjunctivitis)

• Use in adults and children aged 12 years and above
• The usual dose is one drop in each eye in the morning and evening.

If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may increase your dose to one drop in each eye, up to four times a day. Relief of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis should be noticed after 15-30 minutes. 

Putting in your Optilast eye drops
To help you put in your eye drops correctly, you may find it useful to sit in front of a mirror so you can see what you are doing for the first few times.

1. Wash your hands.
2. Gently wipe around your eyes with a tissue to remove any moisture.
3. Unscrew the top of the bottle and check that the dropper is clean.
4. Gently pull your lower eyelid down.
5. Carefully place the drop inside the middle of your lower eyelid. Take care not to let the dropper touch your eye.
6. Release your lower eyelid and gently press on the inner corner of your eye against the bridge of your nose. Keeping your finger pressed against your nose, slowly blink your eyes a few times to spread the drop across the surface of your eye.
7. Blot away any excess medicine with a tissue.
8. Repeat this for your other eye.

Warnings for Optilast Eye Drops

Do not use Optilast:

• if you are allergic to azelastine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Optilast

• if you are not sure whether your eye disorders are caused by an allergy. In particular, if only one eye is affected; if your vision is impaired; or the eye hurts and you do not have any symptoms in your nose, you may have an infection rather than an allergy
• if the complaints worsen or last longer than 48 hours without remarkable improvement despite the use of Optilast.
• if you wear contact lenses.

Children and adolescents
For the treatment of eye disorders caused by hayfever (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis):
Do not give this medicine to children below 4 years of age, because safety and efficacy have not been established.

For the treatment of eye disorders caused by an allergy (non-seasonal (perennial) allergic conjunctivitis): Do not give this medicine to children below 12 years of age, because safety and efficacy have not been established.

Other medicines and Optilast
Although Optilast is not known to be affected by other medicines, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines
Your sight may become blurred for a short time after you use Optilast. If this happens, wait until your sight clears before you drive or use machinery.

Optilast contains benzalkonium chloride
This medicine contains 0.00375 mg benzalkonium chloride in each drop which is equivalent to 0.00375 mg/0.03 ml. 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.

Ingredients in Optilast Eye Drops

The active substance is azelastine hydrochloride 0.05% (0.5 mg/ml). Each drop contains 0.015 mg azelastine
hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate, hypromellose, liquid sorbitol (crystallising) (E420i), sodium hydroxide (E524) and water for injections.