Eye drops used for children

• Eye drops have numerous uses in children – they can help during eye tests, to treat eye conditions like infection or allergy, and some drops can even help guide vision development.
• Some eye drops are used once, others for months to years. Drops for eye exams wear off quickly, but certain eye drops may need long-term use to have lasting effects.
• All medications have the potential for side effects. Parents can help minimize risks by using drops as directed and pressing gently on the corner of the eye to stop the medicine draining away.

Atropine eye drops are used to widen (dilate) the pupil and temporarily stop the eye’s focussing mechanism (cycloplegia). These effects make atropine a useful tool for optometrists during eye examinations. 

Dilated pupils provide a wide field-of-view inside the eye to assess eye health, and vision testing during cycloplegia can improve the accuracy of the prescription measurement. 

Atropine is also an effective treatment for conditions such as eye inflammation, amblyopia (lazy eye), and controlling the worsening of near-sightedness (myopia control). When treating eye inflammation, atropine is typically used short-term, but for amblyopia and myopia control, treatment may be used over the course of months to years.

Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears (or the tears don’t work effectively) to keep the surface of the eye moist, causing symptoms like irritation, discomfort, and sometimes blurry vision.  

Lubricating eye drops are used to alleviate dry eye syndrome, by replenishing the moisture on the eye’s surface (tear film). Because their effect is only temporary, lubricating eye drops usually need to be applied at regular intervals multiple times a day, especially for persistent symptoms.

The surrounding environment can also play a major role. Prolonged screen time and close work, sitting in air-conditioned rooms, dry or windy environments, and contact lens wear can worsen signs of dry eye.¹

Antibiotic eye drops and ointments are used in the treatment of bacterial eye infections, such as bacterial conjunctivitis. 

However, not all bacterial eye infections require antibiotics, as some resolve without medication.

For children, an ointment is sometimes preferred over drops because it remains on the eye for longer, reducing the need for regular applications.

Different types of antibiotics treat different groups of bacteria. In some cases, laboratory testing may be carried out to identify the specific bacteria before selecting a treatment. Depending on the eye condition, your optometrist or doctor will determine the most appropriate option for your child.

Steroid eye drops are used to manage different forms of eye inflammation. 

While inflammation is a natural part of the body’s healing response, an excessive reaction can cause redness, swelling, and pain. Steroid-based eye drops help by calming this overactive immune response. 

Different steroids are used depending on where the inflammation is located – some formulations act mainly on the eye’s surface, while others penetrate more deeply to treat internal areas.

Eye drops are often used to treat allergic eye problems in children. 

Symptoms of eye allergy may occur on their own, or along with typical hayfever-like symptoms like sneezing or runny nose. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most common presentation of eye allergy and causes itchy, watery eyes.

Children with allergies or a history of conditions such as eczema may also be more likely to develop keratoconus, a long-term eye condition where frequent rubbing changes the shape of the eye and leads to blurred vision.

Eye drops used to treat eye allergies include:

• Antihistamine eye drops: these block the action of histamine, which is the chemical released that causes allergy symptoms.
• Mast cell stabilizers: these stop the release of histamine to alleviate allergy symptoms. There are formulations that include both antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers to increase the anti-allergy effect.
• Steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): these can also be used for severe allergy to reduce discomfort.

Anaesthetic eye drops temporarily numb the surface of the eye, blocking any sensation and pain. 

These drops are not prescribed for home use or to treat eye problems, but are commonly used as part of eye examinations for adults, and less frequently for children. 

Anaesthetics are used to improve the comfort of procedures such as foreign body removal (like dust or metal from the eye) and eye pressure measurement. 

Giving eye drops to your child can feel daunting at first, but following a few careful steps can make the process smoother and more comfortable.

1. Lay your baby or toddler on their back with their head supported. This prevents the eye drops from trickling down their face.
2. Gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a small pocket.
3. Place one drop into this pocket, being careful not to touch the tip of the bottle to their eye or lashes.
4. Afterwards, gently press on the inner corner of the eye (near the nose) and hold for about 1 minute.
5. Wipe away any excess fluid with a clean tissue.

Alternatively, if you're struggling to apply the eye drop into the pocket at the lower eyelid (step 2), try aiming for the inner corner of their eye while your child’s eyes are closed. Once they open their eyes, the liquid will trickle in on its own.

Watch how to apply eye drops in our video guide.

1. Jones LA, Walline JJ, Gaume A, Rah MJ, Manny RE, Berntsen DA, Chitkara M, Kim A, Quinn N; CLIP Study Group. Purchase of contact lenses and contact-lenses-related symptoms following the Contact Lenses in Pediatrics (CLIP) Study. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2009 Aug;32(4):157-63.
2. Musleh MG, Bokre D, Dahlmann-Noor AH. Risk of intraocular pressure elevation after topical steroids in children and adults: A systematic review. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2020 Sep;30(5):856-866.