135 mm

220 mm

jlnfected Eyes 1 % w/w Eye Ointment |(Chloramphenicol)

Patient Information leaflet

|Read all the leaflet carefully because it fcontains important information for you. This medicine is available without a prescription. |However, you still need to use it carefully to get the best results from it.

!• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read ¹ it again.

!• Ask your pharmacist if you need more ' information or advice.

!• You must contact a doctor if your | symptoms get worse or do not improve. i» If any of the side effects gets serious, or ] if you notice any side effects not listed in i this leaflet, please tell your doctor or | pharmacist.

jin this leaflet:

1. What your medicine is and what it is ! used for

'2. Before you use your medicine 3. How to use your medicine [4. Possible side effects 6. Storing your medicine [6. Further information

Do “hot use the oTritmenf arid^-ta(k"to j your doctor or pharmacist straight away j if any of the following apply to you:    i

•    Your eye is painful (rather than just feeling sore or gritty) or you have pain or swelling around the eye or face.

•    Your sight is affected by loss of vision, reduced or blurred vision or you see halos around lights.

•    It is too painful to open your eyes properly.

•    Your pupil (the black circle in the centre of your eye) looks different. It may be torn, not round, very big or does not change size in the light.

•    Your eye looks cloudy.

•    You have had an eye infection In the past month.

•    You have glaucoma (high pressure inside your eye).

•    You have “dry eye syndrome”.

•    You have injured your eye.

•    You think there may be something in your eye or you have splashed something in your eye.

•    You are already using other eye drops or eye ointment.

•    You have had eye surgery or laser treatment in the last 6 months.

1. What your medicine is and what it is used for

phloramphenicol belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics are |used for infections caused by bacteria. 'Infected Eyes Eye Ointment is for simple |eye infections called “acute bacterial conjunctivitis”. This is sometimes known as !"red eye” because the white part of the jaffected eye(s) will be red and/or the eyelid(s) will be red or swollen. There may also be a jsticky discharge which can make the eye difficult to open in the morning, and the eye [may feel 'gritty' or 'irritated'.

2. Before you use your medicine

00    not use the ointment and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:

» You are allergic to chloramphenicol or j anything else in the ointment. Everything ' in the ointment is listed in Section 6 | “Further Information”.

'• You or a member of your family has had

1    problems with their blood or bone marrow, j These problems can include a severe

i reduction in red blood cells or lower than j normal blood count.

'• The person needing to use the ointment I _ i^s_^uI^|der_2_years of_age_L _

If you wear contact lenses, seek advice either from your contact lens practitioner (optician, optometrist) or doctor before you use this product.

•    You should not wear your contact lenses during the course of treatment.

•    If you wear soft contact lenses do not start wearing them for at least 24 hours after you have finished the eye ointment.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, especially:

•    Other eye ointments or eye drops

•    Medicines which may affect your bone marrow.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using this ointment, stop using it and see your doctor.

Important information about some of the ingredients of this medicine

This ointment contains wool fat. This may cause a skin reaction around the eyes such as “contact dermatitis".

Driving and using machinery

The ointment may cause blurred vision due to smearing or stinging.

•    This will only happen for a short period after it is put in your eye.

•    If this happens do not drive or use

_ ri^a5hinery untij_you can see_clearjy^____

Jnfected Eyes Eye Ointment is used by jplacing a small amount (about 1 cm) in the space between the lower eyelid and the eye. (Always follow your pharmacist's instructions. i» Do not take it by mouth.

(• Do not use for children under 2 years ' of age.

Adults and children aged 2 years and over:

(A course of treatment lasts 5 days:

» If the eye ointment is being used alone,

I squeeze a thin line of ointment inside the ' lower eyelid of each affected eye 3 to 4 I times a day. This means that you should j use it about every 4 - 6 hours. i» If you are using chloramphenicol eye | drops during the day and the eye ointment i at night - apply the ointment at night,

| before going to bed.

(Your pharmacist will advise which is the (most suitable treatment for you.

When using the ointment

(• Wash your hands before and after using i the ointment

(• Sit or stand in front of a mirror i» Take off the tube cap (• Tilt head gently backwards '• Gently pull lower eyelid down (• Gently squeezing the tube, put about i 1 cm of ointment into the space between | the lower eyelid and the eye “ Let go of the eyelid I and blink a few ¹ times. This will I help spread the ¹ ointment over the eye i» Try not to touch the eye,

| anything else with the tip of the tube i» Repeat for the other eye, if affected (• Replace cap securely after use.

Jt is important to complete the course of (treatment even if your eyes feel better.

Talk to your doctor immediately if;

•    Your eyes get worse at any time

•    There is no improvement within 2 days.

(Do not repeat the course of treatment without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

(If you miss a dose, use the ointment as directed above and then continue your (normal course of treatment.

iDo not share your eye ointment with (anyone else.

ilf the contents of this tube are swallowed, (contact your doctor straight away or go to your nearest hospital casualty department. (Take the tube and container with you so that the medicine can be identified.

Most people use Infected Eyes Eye Ointment without any problems, but it can have side effects, like all medicines.

Side effects that may occur include:

Reactions on or around the eye which are mild:

•    stinging or burning

•    irritation or itching

•    inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).

The following side effects are very rare (affect less than 1 person in 10,000):

Blood disorders including:

•    severe reduction in red blood cells (also called aplastic anaemia), which may cause weakness or breathlessness

•    lower than normal blood cell counts (bone marrow depression) which may cause fever, joint pain or repeated infections.

Grey baby syndrome in newborns and infants:

•    low blood pressure

•    vomiting

•    blue colouring of the lips and pale "grey" skin.

If you have any of these symptoms, or have any other unusual symptoms or concerns with your medicine, stop using it and see your doctor or pharmacist straight away.

5. Storing your medicine

•    Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

•    Sterile until opened.

•    Do not store above 25 °C.

•    Do not use it after the expiry date shown on the tube and carton.

•    Discard any unused eye ointment after completing your 5 day course of treatment or return it to your pharmacist.

6. Further information

The name of your medicine is

Boots Infected Eyes 1 % w/w Eye Ointment.

This medicine contains the active ingredient Chloramphenicol 1.0% w/w.

Other Ingredients are Liquid Paraffin, Wool Fat and Yellow Soft Paraffin.

Each tube contains 4 grams of smooth yellow eye ointment.

Manufacturer: Farmigea S.p.A Via G.B. Oliva 8, 56121 Pisa, Italy Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd,

Bampton Road, Romford,

RM3 8UG, England.

Distributor: The Boots Company PLC, Nottingham, NG2 3AA

Text revised July 2011