A lot of medications are known to create swollen eyelids from antibiotics in the form of oral, topical, and parenteral. These are usually characterized by angioedema, urticaria, or topical blepharoconjunctivitis causing swelling of the eyelids.
In this piece of article, we will discuss some strong antibiotics that have been associated with a lot of ocular side effects. They have been reported to affect the eyes or vision.
Antibiotics are used to treat different bacterial infections. Antibiotics include a large number of drugs, the main classes of antibiotics and their components are presented below table:
| Class | Antibiotics |
|---|---|
| Penicillins | Amoxicillin Ampicillin Co-Amoxiclav Co-fluampicil Flucloxacillin Benzyl Penicillin Phenoxymethylpenicillin Pivmecillinam Piperacillin tazobactam Ticarcillin Clavulanic acid |
| Cephalosporins | Cefaclor Cefadroxil Cefalexin Cefixime Cefotaxime Cefradine Ceftazidime Ceftriaxone Cefuroxime |
| Macrolide | Azithromycin Clarithromycin Erythromycin |
| Quinolone | Ciprofloxacin Levofloxacin Moxifloxacin Nalidixic Acid Norfloxacin Ofloxacin |
| Tetracyclines | Demeclocycline Doxycycline Lymecycline Minocycline Oxytetracycline Tetracycline |
| Aminoglycosides | Azithromycin Gentamicin Neomycin Tobramycin |
| Sulphonamides | Co-trimoxazole Sulfadiazine |
| Other | Aztreonam Chloramphenicol Clindamycin Clofazimine Colomycin Daptomycin Fidaxomicin Fusidic Acid Linezolid Meropenem Methenamine Metronidazole Nitrofurantoin Primaxin Rifaximin Teicoplanin Tinidazole Trimethoprim Vancomycin |
Ocular side effects of Antibiotics
As we have divided antibiotics into different classes above, we will describe their ocular side effects accordingly.
Penicillin Antibiotics
Antibiotics that belong to the class penicillin have some reported side effects, including red, itchy, and dry eyes. In addition, the use of amoxicillin can cause puffy eyes, also can create swelling in the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue.
Macrolide Antibiotics
Antibiotics that belong to the class macrolide, especially azithromycin have been linked to dry eyes, itching, ocular pain and blurred vision. In addition, the use of topical azithromycin should be avoided when wearing contact lenses because they produce discolorations of these products.
Quinolone Antibiotics
These antibiotics are used to treat various types of infections. However, some of them have been reported to have serious vision problems. These include:
- Diplopia
- Pigment Dispersion
- Uveitis
- Glaucoma
- Optic Neuropathy
- Retinal Haemorrhages
- Serous Macular Detachment
- Retinal Detachment
Acute RD has been highly highlighted in both the wider media and scientific literature. According to one report, one in thirty patients presenting with severe RD was taking ciprofloxacin.
The possible pathophysiologic mechanism is unclear. However, this effect may be the result of rapid degradation of the vitreous humor in the extracellular matrix. However, other studies have failed to confirm this link.
However, in the past, the use of quinolone antibiotics has been associated with RD. Nevertheless, this risk may be a possibility. Therefore, it is important that patients who have been treated with such antibiotics be carefully monitored, especially those patients who are at risk of developing RD due to previous ocular pathological conditions.
These patients should be instructed to report as soon as possible if they experience flashes and floaters.
People who are at risk of retinal detachment, such as high myopia, are prescribed quinolone antibiotics. They should be well-educated about retinal detachment and what to do if found.
Tetracycline Antibiotics
These antibiotics cause sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and diplopia. Their long-term use has been associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. This has resulted in problems like papilloedema and ocular hyperpigmentation.
Aminoglycosides Antibiotics
The use of these antibiotics has been associated with retinal toxicity in the form of vasoedema, intraretinal hemorrhage, and retinal infection. Even the systemic use of tetracycline drugs can cause venous beading, rubeosis iridis, neovascular granuloma, pigmentary retinopathy, and optic atrophy.
Sulphonamides Antibiotics
Both systemic and ocular use of these antibiotics have been associated with the occurrence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a serious dermatological condition. In addition, these drugs have also been associated with conjunctivitis and optic neuritis in rare cases. were also frequently associated with myopic shifts such as those following the use of anticholinergic drugs.
Other Antibiotics
Other antibiotics, particularly antibiotic eye drops, have been associated with allergic reactions, and other side effects include temporary blurring of vision.
Conclusion:
In this post, we have divided the antibiotics into different classes and described their ocular side effects. If you are suffering from any eye problems after using any antibiotic, consult your doctor soon.
