Like all medicines, dexamethasone eye drops can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Common side effects
These are some of the common side effects of dexamethasone eye drops. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Irritation, burning, stinging or itching in your eye
If you get these symptoms after using your eye drops, they should go after a few minutes as your eye gets used to the medicine. If they continue, stop using the eye drops and tell your doctor.
Blurred or cloudy vision
You may get some blurred or cloudy vision straight after using the eye drops. If your sight does not go back to normal after a few minutes, or you think your sight is slowly getting worse, stop using the eye drops and tell your doctor.
Unpleasant taste in the mouth
If you get the taste of the eye drops in your mouth a few minutes after your dose, it may help to rinse your mouth with water or have a drink of water.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
Call your doctor or call 111 now if you have side effects such as:
- problems with your sight – blurred or cloudy vision that does not improve or gets worse. These can be signs of increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma) or a cataract
- pain in your eye – this could be a sign of an ulcer on the surface of your eye
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to dexamethasone eye drops.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of dexamethasone eye drops. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.