Tobramycin
Tobramycin is an antibiotic used in eye drops and ointment to clear bacterial eye infections; both products here combine it with dexamethasone at 0.1/0.3%.
Tobramycin And Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone, Tobramycin
0.1/0.3%
Tobramycin and dexamethasone 0.1/0.3% is an eye ointment in tubes, pairing an antibiotic with a steroid to treat eye inflammation that comes with a bacterial infection.
What tobramycin treats
Tobramycin is an antibiotic of the aminoglycoside group, and it works by killing the bacteria that cause eye infections. It is used for surface problems such as bacterial conjunctivitis (a red, sticky, gritty eye), blepharitis (inflamed lid margins) and keratitis (infection of the clear front of the eye). Tobramycin also comes on its own as drops and ointment; both products here pair it with dexamethasone, a steroid that settles swelling, redness and irritation while the antibiotic gets on with the bacteria. That combination suits an eye that is inflamed as well as infected, including after eye surgery.
Drops or ointment?
The strength on both is written 0.1/0.3%: dexamethasone 0.1% with tobramycin 0.3%. Tobradex is the drops, supplied in a bottle. Tobramycin And Dexamethasone comes in a tube, and the thicker ointment lingers on the eye; it also blurs vision for a while after each dose, which is why plenty of people use it last thing at night. Drops are easier during the day. Both sit in the shop's Eye Care range.
How it is used
Drops usually go in every 4 to 8 hours, the ointment two to four times a day. Wash your hands first, and keep the dropper or tube tip away from your eye, your lids and everything else. One drop is enough at a time; with the ointment, a strip about half an inch (1.25 cm) long laid inside the pocket of the pulled-down lower lid does the job. Shut the eye for two or three minutes afterwards. If you use more than one drop in the same eye, or a second eye product as well, leave about five minutes between them. Contact lenses stay out while the eye is infected. Carry on with the course once the redness fades rather than stopping at the first good day.
Side effects worth knowing
Expect some stinging or burning when it goes in, plus itching, watery eyes and puffy lids. The haze that follows the ointment fades without help. A rash that spreads, or swelling of the face, lips or throat with trouble breathing, is a severe allergy and needs urgent treatment. The steroid is what matters on a longer course: weeks of use can raise pressure inside the eye and give some infections room to get worse, and neither happens overnight.
Looking after the bottle or tube
Close the bottle or tube after every use, never let the tip touch anything, and keep it out of direct sun. These products are for one person's eyes only.
Sources
- Tobramycin Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- tobramycin- Tobramycin sulfate injection — DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Is Tobramycin available to order in Hong Kong?
Tobramycin eye preparations can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is generic Tobradex, the tobramycin and dexamethasone combination in 0.1/0.3% bottles, and the plain Tobramycin And Dexamethasone in 0.1/0.3% tubes. Tracked courier delivery takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
How much do Tobramycin products cost in Hong Kong?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the two tobramycin products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Tobramycin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order tobramycin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for dexamethasone and tobramycin?
Tobradex is a brand name of dexamethasone and tobramycin. Here, dexamethasone and tobramycin can be bought online as generic Tobradex and tobramycin and dexamethasone tubes. These are generics, not the original brand.
What is the difference between Tobradex and Tobramycin And Dexamethasone?
Both hold the same two medicines at the same strength: dexamethasone 0.1% and tobramycin 0.3%. Tobradex is the brand name, sold as drops in a bottle, while Tobramycin And Dexamethasone is the plain-labelled version in a tube of ointment.
What does 0.1/0.3% mean on these eye preparations?
It gives the strength of each medicine in the product: 0.1% dexamethasone and 0.3% tobramycin. The figures are written in that order on tobramycin-and-dexamethasone eye preparations, so 0.1/0.3% is the usual strength for both the drops and the ointment.
Can I wear contact lenses while using tobramycin eye drops?
Not while the eye is infected. Contact lenses should be left out until the infection has cleared, and the ointment form blurs vision for a short time after each dose, so it is best used when you do not need to see sharply.
Does the tobramycin ointment blur your vision?
Yes. The tube form is an ointment, and it leaves a film on the eye that makes vision hazy for a short while after each dose. The blurring passes on its own; drops are the easier choice during the day if you need clear sight.