Eye drops used for babies and toddlers

• Eye drops are often prescribed for babies and toddlers to help assess eye health or treat problems such as infection or inflammation.
• Most eye drops are used short-term and are safe when applied as directed by your optometrist or doctor.
• Parents can help reduce side effects by gently pressing the inner corner of the eye after each drop, preventing the medicine from draining away.

Atropine eye drops have multiple uses in babies and toddlers.

They are useful tool during eye examinations to dilate (enlarge) the pupil and relax the eye’s focusing system (accommodation).¹ This helps eye care professionals examine the inside of the eye and accurately measure a child’s prescription to assess for potential vision problems. These effects are particularly helpful in babies and young children, where accurate testing can be more difficult.

Atropine can be used as a treatment for eye conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), as an alternative to patching therapy. 

Atropine may also be prescribed to calm certain types of inflammation inside the eye. In these cases, it is usually used for a short period and under close medical supervision.

Lubricating eye drops, sometimes called 'artificial tears', help maintain comfort and moisture on the surface of the eye. They work by adding moisture similar to natural tears, helping the tear film protect the eye’s delicate surface and keep it healthy.

In babies and toddlers, lubricating drops may be recommended if the eyes become irritated, red, or dry. These drops provide temporary relief and are usually used for a short time under the guidance of your optometrist or doctor. 

Most are very gentle, and are safe to use as often as needed. For sensitive eyes, preservative-free options are preferred as they contain fewer additives.

Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are sometimes prescribed to treat bacterial eye infections, including bacterial conjunctivitis (often called 'pink eye').

Bacterial infection is responsible for up to 70% of conjunctivitis cases in children and commonly causes symptoms such as redness, discharge, and irritation.³ 

However, viruses are the next most common cause of conjunctivitis, and while viral conjunctivitis leads to very similar symptoms, antibiotic drops will not be helpful in those cases.

For babies and toddlers, ointments are often preferred over drops because they stay on the eye longer and are easier to apply.

Steroid eye drops are sometimes prescribed to reduce inflammation inside or around the eye. 

Inflammation is part of the body’s normal healing response, but when it becomes too strong, it can cause redness, swelling, and discomfort. Steroid drops work by calming this reaction and helping the eye recover.

These drops are used only when necessary and always under close medical supervision, as long-term or unsupervised use can lead to side effects such as increased eye pressure.

Anti-allergy eye drops work by blocking or reducing the body’s allergic response. 

Some babies and toddlers can experience allergic reactions that affect the eyes, causing redness, itchiness, and watery discharge. These symptoms often occur along with other signs of allergy such as a runny or blocked nose.

There are several types of anti-allergy eye drops – antihistamine drops can provide quick relief from itching, while mast cell stabiliser drops help to prevent symptoms from returning when used regularly. Some eye drops even use a combination of these.

Cycloplegia is a valuable tool used during children’s eye examinations to help optometrists and eye doctors accurately measure the eye’s prescription, as well as diagnosing certain eye conditions. 

Cycloplegia refers to the state of the eye where the focusing muscles within are temporarily relaxed, preventing the eye from changing its focus. 

Especially in children, whose focusing system is much stronger than that of adults, cycloplegia prevents the eyes from over-focusing, which can sometimes hide the full extent of the prescription.

This process, called cycloplegic refraction, is considered the most accurate way to determine a child’s glasses prescription and helps in diagnosing conditions such as strabismus (eye turns), amblyopia (lazy eye), or significant myopia (near-sightedness) or hyperopia (far-sightedness).

Anaesthetic eye drops are used to temporarily numb the surface of the eye, so your baby or toddler won’t feel any discomfort during certain eye tests or procedures.

They help make procedures such as checking eye pressure or removing a small foreign object more comfortable. The numbing effect wears off quickly after the examination.

These drops are only used in the clinic by an eye care professional.

Giving eye drops to a baby or toddler 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.