Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNeosporin Eye TreatmentsUsesApplication TechniqueSide EffectsPrecautions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Neosporin Eye Treatments
Uses
Application Technique
Side Effects
Precautions
Antibiotic ointments for the skinlikeNeosporincan be toxic to theeye, and should not be used to treat eye wounds or scratches. Neosporin, however, is available as an antibiotic eye ointment as well, which is different from the topical cream for the skin and is often prescribed for eye infections.
Understanding the difference between the topical creams, which can be used on the skin, and those that are safe for the eye will help you choose the right eye-friendly antibiotic topical treatment for your needs.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
What Are Neosporin Ophthalmic Treatments?
Neosporin is a widely used over-the-counter antibiotic ointment for minor cuts, burns, and scrapes on the skin to prevent infection.
There are, however, two formulations of Neosporin prescribed specifically for ophthalmic, or eye-related, purposes. Both products aim to heal superficial bacterial infections:
Polytrim ophthalmic solution: The Polytrim ophthalmic solution (eye drops) consists of neomycin, polymyxin B sulfates, andgramicidin.
Infections can affect the external eye as well as what’s called the adnexa of the eye, which comprises the tear glands(lacrimal glands), muscles that control the eyeball and eyelids (extraocular muscles), eyelashes and eyebrows, and the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid (conjunctiva).
Eye Infections
These preventive tips can reduce your risk of getting an eye infection:
Your healthcare provider will decide whether the eye ointment or solution will treat your eye infection most effectively. While general practitioners can prescribe eye ointments and drops, it is best to be cautious and see aneye care professionallike an optometrist or ophthalmologist, since some infections can cause more serious eye issues.
Can Neosporin Be Used in Eyes?
Polysporin and Polytrim ophthalmic treatments are used for several kinds of eye infections, including the following.
6 Tips to Prevent Styes
How to Apply Neosporin Eye Treatment
Application technique will depend on which product you’re using, the ointment or solution.
Ointment
Polysporin ophthalmic ointment is prescribed in a 1/8 oz. (3.5 g) tube that has an ophthalmic tip. Generally, the ointment should be applied every three or four hours for seven to 10 days, depending on the severity of the infection. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than your healthcare provider prescribes.
Here are the steps to applying eye ointment to the eye:
Remember these precautions to avoid eye injury or making the eye ointment or drops non-sterile:
If you miss a dose, apply the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not apply a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Tips for a Steadier HandHold the tube between your thumb and index finger.Place the tube as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
Tips for a Steadier Hand
Hold the tube between your thumb and index finger.Place the tube as near as possible to your eyelid without touching it.Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
Solution
Only use these medications for your eyes. Do not let the ointment or the solution get into your nose or mouth, and do not swallow it.
With either the solution or ointment, call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms or other unusual problems:
Eye ointments can cause temporary blurry vision. If you experience this, don’t drive a vehicle, operate machinery, or perform any hazardous activity.
If you start to have discharge of pus, inflammation, or pain, it could mean you have developed a bacterial resistance to the ophthalmic ointment or solution. Stop using the eye ointment or drops immediately and consult your healthcare provider.
Some people have experienced bacterial keratitis with the use of topical ophthalmic products, both ointments and eye drops, in multiple-dose containers that have been contaminated. This is most common in patients who already have a corneal disease or a disruption of the tissue in front of the eye (ocular epithelial surface).
If you are prescribed the Polysporin ophthalmic ointment, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist if you are already taking zinc or any prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Let your healthcare provider know if you have or have ever had hearing problems or kidney disease.
Allergic Cross-ReactionsAllergic cross-reactionsmay occur, which could prevent the use of any or all of the following antibiotics for the treatment of future infections. For both ointment and eye drops, do not use them if you are allergic to any of the listed ingredients, as well as:AmikacinBacitracinGentamicinKanamycinNeomycinParomomycinPolymyxinStreptomycinTobramycin
Allergic Cross-Reactions
Allergic cross-reactionsmay occur, which could prevent the use of any or all of the following antibiotics for the treatment of future infections. For both ointment and eye drops, do not use them if you are allergic to any of the listed ingredients, as well as:AmikacinBacitracinGentamicinKanamycinNeomycinParomomycinPolymyxinStreptomycinTobramycin
Allergic cross-reactionsmay occur, which could prevent the use of any or all of the following antibiotics for the treatment of future infections. For both ointment and eye drops, do not use them if you are allergic to any of the listed ingredients, as well as:
Topical antibiotics, particularly neomycin sulfate, may cause skin sensitization, resulting in possible itching, redness, and swelling of the conjunctiva and eyelid. Another sensitization reaction is a failure to heal. During long-term use of the ophthalmic ointment or solution, it is important to check periodically for these signs of sensitization and to inform your healthcare provider and discontinue use of the product if they appear. Symptoms usually subside quickly after stopping use of the eye ointment or drops.
Antibiotic ResistanceAs with other antibiotic preparations, prolonged use of Polysporin ophthalmic ointment may result in overgrowth organisms that are resistant to antibiotics, such as fungi, which can result in a fungal infection.Sometimes a superinfection occurs, which is when a second infection occurs that is resistant to the treatment being used to fight the first infection. If this happens, your healthcare provider will prescribe other medication.
Antibiotic Resistance
As with other antibiotic preparations, prolonged use of Polysporin ophthalmic ointment may result in overgrowth organisms that are resistant to antibiotics, such as fungi, which can result in a fungal infection.Sometimes a superinfection occurs, which is when a second infection occurs that is resistant to the treatment being used to fight the first infection. If this happens, your healthcare provider will prescribe other medication.
As with other antibiotic preparations, prolonged use of Polysporin ophthalmic ointment may result in overgrowth organisms that are resistant to antibiotics, such as fungi, which can result in a fungal infection.
Sometimes a superinfection occurs, which is when a second infection occurs that is resistant to the treatment being used to fight the first infection. If this happens, your healthcare provider will prescribe other medication.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are planning to become pregnant or are already pregnant. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, or bacitracin, so it is not known whether Polysporin ophthalmic ointment can cause harm to a fetus. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. However, because many drugs are excreted in human milk, be cautious and ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to use Polysporin ophthalmic ointment while you are nursing.
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. As with all medications, it is important to keep all containers out of the sight and reach of children.
Summary
12 SourcesVerywell 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.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can you put regular antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, in your eye to treat a scratched cornea?Johnson & Johnson.NEOSPORIN® Original Ointment.Pfizer.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Solution Sterile.Burroughs Wellcome Co.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Ointment Sterile.Costin BR, Perry JD.Ocular adnexal infections.Curr Ophthalmol Rep.2014;2:124–128. doi:10.1007/s40135-014-0045-5Taylor R. Eye Infections:Be Careful Now or Regret It Later. American Academy of Ophthalmology.American Association of Ophthalmology.What is pink eye?Turbert D.What Is Bacterial Keratitis? American Association of Ophthalmology.Boyd K.What Is Blepharitis?American Association of Ophthalmology.Fazal MI, Patel BC.Blepharoconjunctivitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Boyd K.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment. American Association of Ophthalmology.Medline Plus.Neomycin, Polymyxin, and Bacitracin Ophthalmic.
12 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.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can you put regular antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, in your eye to treat a scratched cornea?Johnson & Johnson.NEOSPORIN® Original Ointment.Pfizer.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Solution Sterile.Burroughs Wellcome Co.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Ointment Sterile.Costin BR, Perry JD.Ocular adnexal infections.Curr Ophthalmol Rep.2014;2:124–128. doi:10.1007/s40135-014-0045-5Taylor R. Eye Infections:Be Careful Now or Regret It Later. American Academy of Ophthalmology.American Association of Ophthalmology.What is pink eye?Turbert D.What Is Bacterial Keratitis? American Association of Ophthalmology.Boyd K.What Is Blepharitis?American Association of Ophthalmology.Fazal MI, Patel BC.Blepharoconjunctivitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Boyd K.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment. American Association of Ophthalmology.Medline Plus.Neomycin, Polymyxin, and Bacitracin Ophthalmic.
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.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can you put regular antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, in your eye to treat a scratched cornea?Johnson & Johnson.NEOSPORIN® Original Ointment.Pfizer.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Solution Sterile.Burroughs Wellcome Co.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Ointment Sterile.Costin BR, Perry JD.Ocular adnexal infections.Curr Ophthalmol Rep.2014;2:124–128. doi:10.1007/s40135-014-0045-5Taylor R. Eye Infections:Be Careful Now or Regret It Later. American Academy of Ophthalmology.American Association of Ophthalmology.What is pink eye?Turbert D.What Is Bacterial Keratitis? American Association of Ophthalmology.Boyd K.What Is Blepharitis?American Association of Ophthalmology.Fazal MI, Patel BC.Blepharoconjunctivitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Boyd K.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment. American Association of Ophthalmology.Medline Plus.Neomycin, Polymyxin, and Bacitracin Ophthalmic.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Can you put regular antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, in your eye to treat a scratched cornea?
Johnson & Johnson.NEOSPORIN® Original Ointment.
Pfizer.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Solution Sterile.
Burroughs Wellcome Co.NEOSPORIN® Ophthalmic Ointment Sterile.
Costin BR, Perry JD.Ocular adnexal infections.Curr Ophthalmol Rep.2014;2:124–128. doi:10.1007/s40135-014-0045-5
Taylor R. Eye Infections:Be Careful Now or Regret It Later. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
American Association of Ophthalmology.What is pink eye?
Turbert D.What Is Bacterial Keratitis? American Association of Ophthalmology.
Boyd K.What Is Blepharitis?American Association of Ophthalmology.
Fazal MI, Patel BC.Blepharoconjunctivitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Boyd K.What is the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Causes, symptoms, treatment. American Association of Ophthalmology.
Medline Plus.Neomycin, Polymyxin, and Bacitracin Ophthalmic.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
