Epinephrine ophthalmic Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 9, 2023.

Applies to epinephrine ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, epinephrine ophthalmic may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking epinephrine ophthalmic:

Less common

• Blurred or decreased vision

Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body

• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
• feeling faint
• increased sweating
• paleness
• trembling

Other side effects

Some side effects of epinephrine ophthalmic may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Headache or browache
• stinging, burning, redness, or other eye irritation
• watering of eyes

Less common

• Eye pain or ache

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to epinephrine ophthalmic: ophthalmic solution.

Ocular

Chronic ophthalmic application of epinephrine to aphakic patients may cause maculopathy in up to 28% of patients (macular edema, vascular spasm, hemorrhages), which can result in distorted vision, central scotoma, and/or loss of visual acuity. This maculopathy can reverse within six months upon drug withdrawal.

A single case of madarosis (loss of eyelashes) has been associated with topical epinephrine. After the therapy was discontinued, the lashes grew back.^[Ref]

Ocular side effects have included stinging and burning, lacrimation, and local discomfort upon application in up to 62% of patients. Browache, eye pain/ache, conjunctival hyperemia, allergic lid reactions, mydriasis, blurry vision, photophobia have been reported. Ocular cicatrization, pemphigoid, loss of eyelashes, and maculopathy have been reported rarely. Prolonged use can cause corneal edema, refractoriness of superficial blood vessels to constrict, and deposition of brownish oxidation products of epinephrine in the palpebral conjunctiva.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects associated with ocularly applied epinephrine have rarely included palpitations, tachycardia, extrasystoles, premature ventricular depolarizations, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects associated with ocularly applied epinephrine have included faintness, trembling, pallor, headache, tremors, and perspiration.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions after ocular application may present as diffuse vascular engorgement, follicular hypertrophy, chemosis, conjunctivitis, and/or iritis.^[Ref]

General

In general, systemic side effects after topical application of epinephrine to the eye are more likely if the corneum is damaged or permeability is increased by tonometry, surgery, inflammation, or topical application of a local anesthetic.^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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