Superficial injury of eye ( from the vial tip touching the eye during administration) and/or corneal abrasion. At the time of writing there is limited published experience regarding the safety of carmellose sodium in breastfeeding, however, carmellose sodium eye drops have been used for many years with no adverse effects reported and the manufacturer states no special precautions are necessary during breastfeeding. Carmellose has a high molecular weight and would be unlikely to be present in breastmilk. Schaefer considers that most eye drops are compatible with breastfeeding and that artificial tears are not amongst those ophthalmic preparations likely to raise concern (Schaefer 2007). If you also use an eye ointment, always use your eye drops first and wait 5 minutes before using the ointment.

If you’re using a bottle, remove the lid. If you’re using the single-dose dropper, twist the top off. Carmellose sodium eye drops can be stored at room temperature and do not need to be kept in a fridge. What if I forget to use it? Please take care that the dropper doesn't touch your eye, your fingers, or any other surface. This could contaminate the drops left in the bottle. Use the carmellose sodium eye drops within the expiry date on the bottle. Use them within 4 weeks of opening, unless your drops come with different instructions. This will help to prevent the risk of eye infections and the eye drops not working so well. Ask a pharmacist if you are not sure. Carmellose sodium comes in a bottle with an eye dropper, or as a box of single-dose droppers. The single-dose droppers do not contain preservatives. How to use the eye dropsNeonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk. Advise patients that instillation of eye drops may cause transient blurring of vision and to avoid driving or operating machinery until vision is clear. Hold the bottle or dropper over your eye, look up, and allow 1 drop to fall into your lower eyelid. If you find it hard to use eye drops, ask a pharmacist for advice. They may be able to recommend an eye drop dispenser. Using eye drops correctly can be difficult, but there are several useful devices (compliance aids) available to help. Speak to your pharmacist to see which device would best suit your eye drops. Brands include,Autodrop, Opticare and Drop Aid Single Dose. Expiry dates and storage The recommended dose is 1-2 drops of CELLUVISC ® in the affected eye/each affected eye, 4 times a day or as often as needed.

It’s also very important to keep your eyelids clean. Wipes, pads or rinses are available to buy from pharmacies, or you can simply use warm water. Single-dose droppers should usually be used as soon as you open them. But you can reseal some brands and use them again up to 12 hours later, for example Carmize, Cellusan and Melophthal.

Repeat in your other eye if you need to. There is enough liquid in 1 single-dose dropper to put a drop in both eyes if needed.