Swallowing eye drops can be concerning, but the effects vary depending on their ingredients. While eye drops are formulated for topical application, their ingestion can lead to different outcomes based on whether they are simple saline solutions or complex medicated formulas. This article clarifies potential risks and provides guidance on how to respond.
Understanding Eye Drop Ingredients
The effects of swallowing eye drops depend on their active components. Lubricating or saline eye drops, often called artificial tears, typically contain water, salts, and moisturizing agents like polyethylene glycol or glycerin. These ingredients are generally harmless if swallowed in small amounts, causing no significant systemic effects.
Medicated eye drops contain active pharmaceutical ingredients designed to treat specific eye conditions. Redness-relieving drops often contain vasoconstrictors like tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, or oxymetazoline. Other medicated drops include antihistamines for allergies, beta-blockers for glaucoma, and antibiotics for infections. When swallowed, active ingredients from medicated drops, particularly vasoconstrictors, can be absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to systemic effects.
Potential Symptoms of Ingestion
Symptoms after ingesting eye drops can range from none to severe, depending on the type and amount swallowed. If a small quantity of lubricating or saline eye drops is consumed, there are often no noticeable symptoms, or at most, mild stomach upset may occur. These drops are similar to natural tears, making adverse reactions unlikely.
Ingesting medicated eye drops, especially redness-relieving ones, can lead to more concerning effects. Ingredients like tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, and oxymetazoline, which are alpha-adrenergic agonists, can act similarly to blood pressure-lowering medications when absorbed. Symptoms can include drowsiness, lethargy, a drop in blood pressure (hypotension), and a slowed heart rate (bradycardia).
Individuals may also experience decreased breathing, sedation, blurred vision, dilated pupils, stupor, or even coma. Children are particularly susceptible due to their smaller body weight, with even small amounts potentially causing pronounced reactions. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, blue lips and fingernails, seizures, headache, irritability, nervousness, tremors, and weakness.
Immediate Steps and When to Get Help
If eye drops have been swallowed, promptly assess the situation. Determine the type of eye drop ingested and estimate the amount consumed. This information will be helpful for medical professionals.
For any ingestion of medicated eye drops, or if symptoms develop after swallowing any type, contact a poison control center immediately. The national toll-free Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222, offers free and confidential expert advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by poison control or a healthcare professional.
Emergency medical attention is necessary if severe symptoms occur, such as difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness, unresponsiveness, or seizures. Call emergency services (such as 911) immediately. Keep the eye drop bottle handy for reference, as it provides valuable ingredient information. To prevent accidental ingestion, especially by children, store all eye drop products out of their reach.