Eye drops

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Date: June 2026, Version 1.0

Quick read

Most types of eye drops can be used during pregnancy. Very little of the medicine from an eye drop will reach your baby.

What are they?

Eye drops are liquid medicines that you put directly into your eye. They are used to treat infections, allergies, pain and inflammation, as well as specific eye problems such as dry eyes and glaucoma.

There are separate Bump leaflets on the treatment of glaucoma and the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Benefits

What are the benefits of using eye drops in pregnancy?

Eye drops can treat and relieve a range of eye conditions. Using eye drops as prescribed can help keep your eyes comfortable and protect your eye health.

Depending on the type, eye drops can help:

•    relieve dryness, irritation, redness, or itching
•    treat an infection or inflammation in the eye
•    support healing after eye injury or surgery
•    lower pressure in the eye (for conditions such as glaucoma)

It is important that glaucoma is correctly treated in pregnancy to prevent sight loss.

Risks

Are there any risks of using eye drops during pregnancy?

Not usually. The amount of medicine absorbed into your body from eye drops is very small and unlikely to harm your baby.

Eye drops that you can buy over the counter are generally considered safe to use in pregnancy if used as directed. If your doctor or specialist has prescribed an eye drop, it is a good idea to check with them that it is suitable to continue during pregnancy.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using eye drops?

Possibly. Other treatments are available for some eye conditions. However, eye drops are often preferred because they deliver the medicine directly to your eye. This means that less medicine reaches the rest of your body and your baby compared with tablets or other oral treatments.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to use eye drops?

Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns you may have, helping you decide what is best for you and your baby.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

Most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects as part of routine antenatal care. Using eye drops in pregnancy will not require extra monitoring of your baby.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father uses eye drops?

We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father uses eye drops.

Who can I talk to if I have questions? 

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.