From the Guidelines
Neomycin-polymyxin-dexamethasone eye drops should be used for 7-10 days for bacterial conjunctivitis, as this duration is typically recommended for effective treatment and prevention of recurrence or antibiotic resistance. The standard regimen involves instilling 1-2 drops into the affected eye(s) 4-6 times daily during waking hours for the first 24-48 hours, then reducing to 3-4 times daily as the condition improves 1. It's essential to complete the full course of treatment even if symptoms resolve earlier. This medication combines antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B) to kill bacteria and dexamethasone to reduce inflammation and redness. Some key points to consider when using neomycin-polymyxin-dexamethasone eye drops include:
- Washing hands before and after application to prevent contamination
- Avoiding touching the dropper tip to any surface, including the eye
- Temporarily discontinuing contact lens wear during treatment
- Monitoring for improvement or worsening of symptoms, and seeking medical reassessment if necessary, as this could indicate viral conjunctivitis or another condition not responsive to this medication 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
In mild to moderate infections, instill one drop in the affected eye(s) every three hours (maximum of 6 doses per day) for a period of 7 to 10 days.
- The recommended treatment duration for conjunctivitis with neomycin-polymyxin-dexamethasone eye drops is 7 to 10 days 2.
- The treatment should be administered as one drop in the affected eye(s) every three hours, with a maximum of 6 doses per day.
From the Research
Treatment Duration for Conjunctivitis
- The treatment duration for conjunctivitis with neomycin-polymyxin-dexamethasone 3.5 mg/mL-10,000 unit/mL-0.1% eye drops is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, according to 3, bacterial conjunctivitis typically resolves in 1 to 2 weeks, and topical antibiotics can decrease the duration of the infection.
- A study by 4 found that treatment with neomycin-polymyxin-dexamethasone for 4 days resulted in a significant reduction in bacterial counts and conjunctival discharge in patients with bacterial blepharitis or conjunctivitis.
- Other studies, such as 5 and 6, compared the efficacy of different antibiotic eye drops, including neomycin-polymyxin-gramicidin, in the treatment of presumptive bacterial conjunctivitis, but did not specify the treatment duration.
- A study by 7 found that treatment with topical polymyxin B, neomycin, and gramicidin for suspected bacterial corneal ulceration resulted in re-epithelialisation in 99% of patients, with an average healing time of 12.6 days.