Acular (Ketorolac Trometamol)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick Facts
What Is Acular Used For?
Acular contains ketorolac trometamol, which helps reduce eye inflammation, pain, and itching by blocking certain substances in your body called prostaglandins.
Primary Uses
Acular is used in adults to treat itchy eyes caused by seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever affecting the eyes) and to prevent and reduce swelling and redness after cataract surgery.
How It Works
Ketorolac trometamol works by decreasing prostaglandin E2 levels in the eye. Prostaglandins are naturally produced by the body and are associated with pain, itching, and inflammation.
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How to Take Acular
Acular eye drops should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The number of drops and duration of treatment depends on your specific condition.
Dosage Instructions
For seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: Use one drop in affected eye(s) four times each day for up to four weeks. For cataract surgery: Use one to two drops in affected eye(s) four times each day, starting 24 hours before surgery and continuing for up to 4 weeks as advised by your doctor.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you forget a dose and it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. If it's not close to your next dose time, use the drops as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never use double the number of drops to make up for a missed dose.
Important: Never use double the number of drops to make up for a missed dose
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Burning and stinging when applying drops
- Blurred vision
- Eye itching and redness
- Eye irritation or feeling something in the eye
- Eye pain
- Drooping upper eyelid
- Swollen eyelid
- Sensitivity to light
- Dry eye
- Vision changes
- Headache
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- White deposit on the underside of the front part of the eye
- Bleeding of the retina
- Swelling of the central area of the retina
- Swelling of the front layer of the eyeball or colored part of the eye
- White spots on the eye surface
- Lesion on the front layer of the eyeball
- Increased eye pressure
- Eye or surrounding area infection
- Bronchospasm
- Worsening asthma
- Severe allergic reaction including swelling of tongue, lips and throat, difficulty breathing
Important Warnings
Before using Acular, it's important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure safe use.
Who Should Not Take Acular
Do not use Acular if you are allergic to ketorolac trometamol or any ingredients in the drops, if you have ever had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs, if the seal is broken, if the packaging shows signs of tampering, if the product doesn't look right, or if it's past the expiry date.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have or have had: stomach ulcers, lung problems like asthma or bronchospasm, problems with the surface of your eye (cornea), other eye conditions like dry eye syndrome, recent eye surgery, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes easy bleeding or bruising, or if you're using topical NSAIDs for any other condition.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Acular is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Children: Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 12 years of age has not been established
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with how Acular works, and Acular may affect how other medicines work.
Important: Using Acular with other eye medicines, including similar NSAIDs and steroids, may slow down the healing process after surgery
- Other eye medicines including similar NSAIDs
- Steroid eye drops
- Any medicines that may slow healing after surgery
Alcohol & Driving
Take precautions with activities requiring clear vision after using Acular eye drops.
Alcohol
There is no specific information available about the effects of using Acular with alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Wait for your vision to clear completely after using Acular before you drive or operate machinery.
Storage
Store Acular in a cool place below 30°C, away from heat and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Discard the bottle 4 weeks after first opening it.
Overdose Information
If you use too much Acular, immediately rinse your eyes with warm water. If accidentally swallowed, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 1126), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acular begins working by reducing prostaglandin levels in the eye, but the exact time to feel relief may vary depending on your condition. For seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, you should use it for up to four weeks as directed. For cataract surgery, it's used starting 24 hours before surgery.
No, do not use Acular drops while wearing soft contact lenses. Remove your contact lenses before applying the drops and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in. The preservative in Acular may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause discoloration.
Avoid touching the dropper tip to your eye, eyelid, or any surface to prevent contamination and injury. If this happens, clean the tip if possible and continue to use the medication as directed, but contact your doctor if you develop any signs of infection.
Wash your hands, remove contact lenses if worn, tilt your head back, pull down your lower eyelid to form a pouch, hold the bottle close without touching your eye, squeeze one drop into the pouch, close your eye without blinking, and press the inside corner of your eye for about two minutes.
No, do not stop using Acular earlier than instructed by your doctor, even if your symptoms improve. Continue using it for the full time period your doctor prescribed to ensure proper treatment of your condition.
Blurred vision is a common side effect when first applying the drops. Wait for your vision to clear before driving or operating machinery. If blurred vision persists or worsens, contact your doctor.
Tell your doctor about all other eye medicines you're using. Using Acular with other eye medicines, including similar NSAIDs and steroids, may slow down healing after surgery. Your doctor will advise you on the proper use of multiple eye medications if needed.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.