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What Is Boric Acid Eye Wash?
Boric Acid Eye Wash Uses
Boric Acid Eye Wash Benefits
Boric Acid Eye Wash Side Effects
A boric acid eye wash can be effective for flushing eyes exposed to grit or other foreign objects. You can also use it to ease dry, irritated, orburning eyes. Boric acid eye washes have been used for generations to cleanse irritated eyes and fight infection.
This article will go over the uses of boric acid eye wash. You’ll also learn about the risks and possible side effects.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Boric acid, also known as hydrogen borate (H3BO3), is a weak acid derived from the mineral boron. It is widely used in over-the-counter (OTC)antisepticsand astringents. In its natural form, boric acid is a colorless or white crystal that can be finely ground into a powder and dissolved in water.
While toxic if you eat or drink it, boric acid has beneficial properties when used as an eyewash. Most boric acid eye washes are an isotonicsaline solution(one that has the same amount of salt as your blood) made with purified water, sodium chloride (salt), and other ingredients.
The level of boric acid in an OTC eye wash is extremely low—generally around 0.02%. That means it poses no harm to the eyes or surrounding tissues.
According to the European Medicines Agency, each 50 microliter (mL) drop contains only around 0.004 milligrams (mg) of boron, well below the allowable limit of 1.0 mg per day.
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There are many types of boric acid eyewashes you can get at the store. Most are used to cleanse and refresh the eyes when they are mildly irritated. Other boric acid eye washes, such asantihistamine eye dropslike Visine-A or Opcon-A, support the treatment of an eye infection or other conditions.
Boric acid eye washes can be used to rinse foreign substances from the eye, including chlorinated water, dust, smoke, chemicals, and smog.
Do Boric Acid Eye Washes Treat Infections?Boric acid eye washes do not treat the underlying condition—they just ease your symptoms. This is especially true if you have fungal eye infections or severe allergy symptoms—both of which require different treatments.While boric acid has antibacterial and antifungal properties, the actual effect is minimal at such low concentrations. If you think you have an eye infection, call your provider.
Do Boric Acid Eye Washes Treat Infections?
Boric acid eye washes do not treat the underlying condition—they just ease your symptoms. This is especially true if you have fungal eye infections or severe allergy symptoms—both of which require different treatments.While boric acid has antibacterial and antifungal properties, the actual effect is minimal at such low concentrations. If you think you have an eye infection, call your provider.
Boric acid eye washes do not treat the underlying condition—they just ease your symptoms. This is especially true if you have fungal eye infections or severe allergy symptoms—both of which require different treatments.
While boric acid has antibacterial and antifungal properties, the actual effect is minimal at such low concentrations. If you think you have an eye infection, call your provider.
Can You Use Allergy Drops If You Wear Contacts?
Boric acid eye wash may have several benefits, including:
What Causes Eye Irritation?
Depending on your need and the brand of solution used, a boric acid eye wash can be applied with an eye dropper or eyecup. Here’s how to use boric acid eye wash.
Always read the product label and follow the instructions for the eye wash you choose. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to make sure you know how to use them correctly.
Before Using a Boric Acid Eye Wash
Before you use a boric acid eye wash, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Using an Eyedropper
Some boric acid eye washes come with an eyedropper. Here are the steps for using these products:
Using an Eye Cup
Boric eye washes can also come with an eye cup instead of a dropper. Here are the steps for using them:
It’s best to use a disposable eyecup, but you can reuse a cup if you wash it thoroughly with hot water and soap. Just avoid touching the rim or inside of the cup with your fingers.
Boric acid eye drops are considered safe if used as directed. Some people may feel a slight tingling sensation or brief blurriness after using the eye wash. Any side effects of boric acid eye washes are usually mild and go away within a few seconds or minutes.
Stop using a boric acid eye wash and call your provider if the side effects don’t get better or you have serious side effects like:
Allergic reactions to a boric acid eye wash are rare, but they can happen. Some people develop symptoms ofcontact dermatitis(redness, rash, inflammation) when they use boric acid eye washes.
Boric Acid Eye Wash InteractionsNever use a boric acid eye wash withcontact lens wetting solutionor any other ophthalmologic solution that has polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This interaction can increase the pH balance of the eye wash and make it more acidic, which can irritate your eyes.
Boric Acid Eye Wash Interactions
Never use a boric acid eye wash withcontact lens wetting solutionor any other ophthalmologic solution that has polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This interaction can increase the pH balance of the eye wash and make it more acidic, which can irritate your eyes.
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A Word From Verywell
Boric acid eye washes have been a mainstay of eye care for generations. While they do not treat eye infections, they can help relieve symptoms.
If you want to use boric acid eye wash, buy an over-the-counter (OTC) product rather than making your own eye wash at home. If you were to use the wrong amount of boric acid in the water or you contaminate it, you could seriously hurt your eyes.
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2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
José AC, Castelo branco B, Ohkawara LE, Yu MC, Lima AL.[Use conditions of boric acid solution in the eye: handling and occurrence of contamination]. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2007;70(2):201-7. doi:10.1590/s0004-27492007000200004
Lehmann, D.; Cavet, M.; and Richardson, M.Nonclinical safety evaluation of boric acid and a novel borate-buffered contact lens multi-purpose solution, Biotrue multi-purpose solution.Cont Lens Anterior Eye.2010;33(Suppl 1):S24-S32. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.06.010
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