Using eyedrops without doctor’s prescription is very risky and can cause serious harm such as blindness, a top ophthalmologist has said.
“A number of people buy such drops without going to a doctor. A number of eyedrops used by patients contain steroids. Using them without doctor’s consultation can cause blindness,” said Dr. Waseem Abdulaziz Aalam, ophthalmology consultant and director of public relations of Saudi Ophthalmological Society (SOS).
He said that steroids can help in reducing inflammation, but it suppresses the immune system which also increases with the passage of time, which is dangerous for the eyes.
Aalam said another reason is that most of the people continue with the same medicine if they get better the first time when it is given by doctors. This, he said, is a dangerous phenomenon because long-term use of steroids can create pressure on the eye, which can cause glaucoma. “Glaucoma is a condition where the optic nerve is damaged, causing blindness. Glaucoma is a silent killer of the optic nerve because the patient does not feel anything in the beginning.”
He said eye allergies are common in the Kingdom. “Steroids in eyedrops are sometimes used for allergies but its continued use can be harmful. These eyedrops should not be used for more than a month. Only doctors can prescribe it for longer periods in some cases.”
Aalam also warned against eyedrops used at beauty parlors to reduce the redness of the eyes, saying that these drops damage the vessels if used in the long term.
He emphasized that parents should get the eyes of their children examined before the age of two years, after reaching the age of four and before entering school because an early diagnosis and prevention is the best cure.
Source: Arab News