is it ok to use the same drops?

my son has cold in his eyes. my oldest did at one time and the doctor gave him eye drops for it. is it ok to use the same eye drops, since they were prescription?
Answers:
Noonce eye drops are used they are contaminatedif this second child doesn't have the same KIND of cold in his eye, he will get it after you put those drops in it.
ShiningSol-
Most likely, yes. Eye drops are sterile until opened, after that any microorganism that gets on to the bottle that the solution isn't specifically meant to kill will thrive in it.Cold germs are everywhere, it doesn't have to touch the eye, but the hand holding the bottle isn't sterile and no matter how careful you are, the tip of the bottle almost always touches something.The expiration date on the bottle is almost always only for until it is opened. After that, in most cases, it is meant to be thrown out after it's intended 2 week or so use.

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Check the expiration date. Clean the end of the tip very well. It should be OK. You can also call the pharmacist.

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What do you mean when you say that he has "cold in his eyes?" Also, it's illegal to use someone else's prescription medicine. I guess you can use it if you want, but at least make sure that it's not expired.

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It's not. They're not sterile for long (a week or so) once opened, and there might be nasty bacteria in them. Check it out, it's usually written on the bottle.
Also consider that what your younger son has might require a completely different treatment, and the wrong medication may wery well make things worse.
Always be on the safer side when it comes to eyes, you only have two of'em and it's no fun being blind.

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No it is not okay to share prescription drugs. You need to speak with your son's doctor about getting a new prescription.

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a doctor probably wouldn't recommend it, but if you don't want to drag your son though taking him to the dr and waiting in line for a new prescrip. i would try it

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if by "cold in his eyes" you are referring to conjunctivitis--aka "pink eye"--no way!! throw them out--it's incredibly contagious

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Eye drops that don't even touch your eyes can get contaminated by the bacteria in them?As in, if I use a dropper an inch above an eye, and they never touch, the drops themselves are contaminated?

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No.Even if only one person uses a container of eyedrops, it must be discarded after a set time; see the label on the drops for more info. Letting anyone else use your eyedrops is a big no - no!

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no,there are different medications prescribed for different things that can be wrong with the eyes. just like any other prescription, you should not share them with anyone without the doctor's approval. i am a certified optician.you could do more harm than good. take your child to the doctor to be diagnosed.

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