Are OTC Eye Products Safe
By: CraigTotal Views: 67, Word Count: 679,
Are OTC eye products safe? This is the question which many consumers ask themselves. But recently FDA (Food and Drug Administration) authority approved and assured that these products are safe. OTC means over the counter products. These products are not prescribed by any doctors. That’s why some people find it risky to use such products. Our eyes are delicate, so it is obvious that we should buy an eye product which is certified by the FDA, so that we don’t harm our eyes. There are some non prescribed products for red eyes or dryness. They are effective and harmless. Only thing you should remember that these products are for temporary use and cannot be used for longer duration, unless prescribed by doctors.
Here are some reasons why you need OTC eye drops:
- Dry Eyes: Many times, you feel your eyes are too dry. This can happen because of many reasons such as staring at the computer or television screen for a long time, exposing eyes to windy or sunny condition, or whenever you feel tired your eyes get dry etc. even if you don’t drink enough water, your eyes become dry because of dehydration. To get quicker relief, you can rely on OTC eye drops. As said earlier you can use them for short term use. These OTC eye drops add tear element to your eyes which are already present, to make them function even better.While buying OTC eye drops, make sure that you are buying drops only for dryness as other drops are also available for redness. These eye drops are called decongestant drops. They function by shrinking the outer blood vessels in the white parts of your eye. This minimizes the redness of your eye, but also increases dryness. So while choosing OTC products, make sure that you are picking the right one. Long term dryness has various reasons including usage of certain medical products like decongestants, diuretics and antidepressants.
- Some OTC eye products like gels are not safe to use. They can blur your vision, so most people use it while sleeping. Also, most of the gels turn to liquid when applied to the eyes. It is not good to use OTC gels as they are not a safe option. If you are using it during the day, then make sure that you do not drive after applying it to the eyes. Also, you need to wait for the eyes to get a clear vision before driving or start doing any work. There are some OTC products that can be used for more severe dryness during the day, but you have to cope with the blurred vision. If OTC drops don’t do your job, then you need to see the eye doctor for further treatment. In more severe cases, do not rely on the OTC products.
- Red Eyes: Red eyes can be caused due to various reasons which include some kind of infection, allergy or dryness. If you know the exact reason behind the cause, you can definitely use OTC eye products. The usage of such products depends on the severity of the illness. As said earlier, decongestant eye drops are the best option. However, they shrink your outer eye vessels. So it will become harder to determine the actual problem. If the reason is unknown, then it is better to consult a doctor instead of taking OTC products. Also, overuse of decongestant makes your pupils dilate. You can have red eyed due to lack of sleep or extra stress also. So using OTC lubricants can cure this problem easily.
- Allergy: Allergies are mainly caused by lack of hygiene maintained near eye areas. It is better to use OTC products to clear allergies. In case of infections, one should visit the eye specialist.
This will give you all the answers to the question, are OTC products safe? As these products are certified by the FDA, you can always use it for short term purpose
About the Author
Craig Brown has practiced as a Doctor of Medicine in New Zealand for about 20 years. Although he is retired now, he continues to share his medical knowledge and experience with readers through his writings
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