What is it used for?

• Pain and inflammation of the eye.

How does it work?

• Acular eye drops contain the active ingredient ketorolac trometamol, which is a type of medicine called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
• Ketorolac trometamol works by blocking the action of a substance in the body called cyclo-oxygenase (COX). Cyclo-oxygenase is involved in producing prostaglandins, in response to injury or certain diseases, such as arthritis. These prostaglandins cause pain, swelling and inflammation. Ketorolac trometamol blocks the production of these prostaglandins and so is effective at relieving pain and inflammation.

Acular eye drops are used to treat pain and swelling after eye surgery.

Key Points

• Acular eye drops may cause your vision to blur temporarily after you have applied them. Do not drive or operate machinery until this has worn off. This product may cause temporary blurring of vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until this has worn off.
• The preservative benzalkonium chloride that is found in Acular eye drops may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and discolour them. If you wear soft contact lenses you should remove them before putting in the drops. Do not put your lenses back in for at least 15 minutes after using the drops.
• As these eye drops reduce inflammation they may mask the symptoms of eye infections, and infections could therefore appear or get worse without being noticed. If you have an eye infection or are at risk of getting an eye infection, your doctor will usually prescribe you antibiotic eye drops as well to avoid this problem.

Use with caution in

• Eye infections.
• People with blood clotting disorders.
• People taking medicines to prevent blood clots (anticoagulants, eg warfarin).
• People with thinning or erosion of the cornea.
• People who have had recurrent peptic ulcers or bleeding from the gut.

Not to be used in

• People in whom aspirin or other NSAIDs, eg ibuprofen, cause allergic reactions such as asthma attacks, itchy rash (urticaria) or nasal inflammation (rhinitis).
• Children.
• Pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Side effects

• Eye irritation.
• Burning sensation in the eye.
• Inflammation of small areas on the surface of the eye (keratitis punctata).
• Eye pain or stinging.
• Itching of the eye.
• Swelling of the eyelid(s) due to excess fluid retention (oedema).
• Red eye due to excess blood supply (hyperaemia).

Rare side effects include:

• Corneal thinning or ulcers.
• Blurred vision.
• Dry eye.
• Headache.
• Increased tear flow.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

If you are using other eye drops in combination with Acular eye drops, you should administer them at least 5 minutes apart, to prevent the second drop washing away the first. Use eye gels or ointments last.

Ketorolac eye drops are not known to affect any other medicines.

References:

https://www.rxlist.com/acular-side-effects-drug-center.htm

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/eye-care/a6146/acular-eye-drops-ketorolac-trometamol/

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/855/smpc

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-5210/acular-ophthalmic-eye/details

https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/acular-31183/patient-info