Collirio di atropina

About atropine eye drops

Atropine makes the pupil of your eye larger and relaxes the muscles in your eye. These things make it easier for your eye to be examined and your vision tested. It is commonly prescribed for young children who need eye tests.

Atropine drops can also be prescribed during the treatment of a condition called anterior uveitis. This is a painful eye condition caused by inflammation within the eye. By making your pupil larger and relaxing the muscles in your eye, it reduces pain and allows the inflamed part of your eye to rest and recover.

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you use the drops it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a qualsiasi collirio.

• If you normally wear contact lenses.

• If you have been told you have a higher than normal pressure in your eye, or if you have glaucoma.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

Atropine eye drops will generally be administered for you, but if you are asked to put the drops in yourself, then:

1. Lavati bene le mani prima di usare le gocce.

2. Remove the cap (or twist off the tip of the unit if you are using a Minims® single-dose unit).

3. Inclina leggermente la testa all'indietro e tira verso il basso la palpebra inferiore per formare una tasca.

4. Tieni il flacone (o l'unità monodose) capovolto vicino al tuo occhio. Cerca di non toccare l'occhio mentre lo fai.

5. Apply enough pressure to the container to release one drop into your eye. Only use a second drop if the first drop missed going into your eye.

6. Chiudi l'occhio per un minuto o due e premi delicatamente sul lato del naso dove l'angolo dell'occhio incontra il naso. Questo aiuta a impedire che la goccia defluisca e la mantiene nell'occhio.

7. Repeat the process in your other eye if you have been told to use the drops in both eyes. (The contents of one single-dose Minims® are enough for both eyes.)

8. Sostituire il tappo (o se si utilizza l'unità monodose, gettarla via).

• Before you start using the eye drops, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from the pack. It will give you more information about the drops and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from using them.

• Take care not to touch your eye, fingers, or any other surface with the dropper of the bottle. This could infect the liquid left in the bottle.

• Atropine will cause blurred vision which may last for some time. Make sure you can see clearly again before you drive and before you use tools or machines.

• If you are using any other eye drops or ointments, leave about ten minutes between applying each one. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and may not have the intended effect.

• If you normally wear contact lenses, do not wear them again until your doctor advises you do so. There are two reasons for this - using atropine will mean you are not able to see clearly, and also bottles of eye drops contain a preservative which can affect soft contact lenses.

Along with their useful effects, eye drops can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains the most common ones associated with atropine eye drops. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your drops. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to a new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.

• Eye drops only keep for four weeks once the bottle has been opened so throw away the bottle after this time, even if there is some solution left. Never keep opened bottles of eye drops to use later. This will help to prevent the risk of eye infections.

• Minims® contain one dose of atropine only. Do not store or re-use opened units to use at a later time.