Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Naphazoline hydrochloride, Witch hazel, distilled may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for 2. What you need to know before you use Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops 3. How to use Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops 6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops is and what it is used for
Dusty, smoky atmospheres, eye strain and chlorine in swimming pools can make the eyes red. When the eyes are red it is because more blood than usual is flowing through the small blood vessels of the eye. Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops:
- are mildly astringent to temporarily remove redness of the eye caused by minor eye irritation.
- contain an active ingredient which restores the normal flow of blood to remove redness.
What you need to know before you take it
e Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops are recommended for adults and children over 12 years Do not use this product if :
- you are sensitive to Hamamelis water, naphazoline, or to any of the ingredients listed in Section 6.
- you have glaucoma, other eye disease or have had eye surgery.
- You have taken monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the last 14 days (medicine used to treat conditions such as depression).
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- you are a child under 12 years of age. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you have:
- high blood pressure
- depression
- heart disease
- diabetes
- thyroid disorders
- hardening and narrowing of blood vessels Or experience eye pain or changes in your eyesight Taking other medicines If you are taking any other medicines you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using this product, particularly if you :
- are taking digoxin, quinidine or tricyclic antidepressants
- have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) within the last 14 days
- are taking antihypertensive (high blood pressure) medication
- are using any other eye treatments Pregnancy and Breastfeeding If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using this product. Important information about some of the ingredients in Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops This medicine contains 0.0019 mg benzalkonium chloride in each drop. Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards. Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or operate machinery if the vision is blurred.
How to take it
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops
Applying the drops To be used in the eye(s) only. 1. Check the seal is not broken before first use. 2. Wash and dry your hands. Please turn over
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UKHCJA7 & ETSW9PL-00062-0024 Optrex Bloodshot Eyes
Reckitt
3. Remove the plastic cap from the eye drop tip. 4. Tilt your head back while seated or lie down on your back. 5. Gently pull the lower eyelid downwards and look up. 6. Place the tip of the bottle close to your eye. Squeeze the bottle and let one drop fall into the space between the lower eyelid and the eye. Take care that the tip of the bottle does not touch your eye, the skin around your eye or your fingers. 7. Close your eye for a moment. 8. When both eyes are to be treated, repeat for the other eye. 9. Replace the cap straight away.
Whilst applying the drops, do not
- breathe on or touch the dropper nozzle
- touch the eyes or eyelids with the dropper nozzle
- share your eye drops with anyone else. For external use only. If anyone accidentally swallows the contents of the bottle seek medical advice. Dose Gently squeeze one or two drops into each eye. Repeat as necessary. Do not use more than four times in 24 hours. Continued use may increase redness of the eye. Do not use the medicine if it changes colour or becomes cloudy. If you have increased redness of the eye or no improvement after 24 hours, stop taking the product and see a doctor. If you take more medicine than you should: Speak to your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Symptoms of overdose by mouth may include nausea, headache, low body temperature, bradicardia, sweating, drowsiness, coma, particularly in children. Using substantially more of Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops than the recommended dose, for example if Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops is accidentally swallowed, may lead to severe side effects affecting the heart and blood circulation. Symptoms may include: decreased heart rate (bradycardia), severe headache, nausea, vomiting, problems with breathing, increased heart rate (tachycardia), and chest pain. If you experience side effects, or in case of accidental intake/ingestion of an overdose of Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops, seek immediate medical attention. If you forget to take the medicine: Take the next dose when needed. Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop using the product and seek medical help immediately if you experience:
- allergic reactions such as itching or rashes
- pain in the eye or change in vision
- stinging or irritation in the eye caused by using too many drops or using them too often Other side effects may include:
- Eye irritation, eye pain. Continued and excessive use may lead to increased redness of the eye and to developing of other eye conditions.
- nausea
- headache, dizziness Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
How to store it
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children. Store below 25°C. Do not freeze. Do not use the drops after the expiry date (printed on the dropper bottle and carton). You must throw away unused drops 28 days after first opening the bottle. The preservative can only keep them sterile in use for a limited time. Medicines should not be disposed of via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops contain the active ingredients Naphazoline and Hamamelis Virginiana. These are present as Naphazoline Hydrochloride PhEur 0.01% w/v and Distilled Witch Hazel BPC 12.5% v/v. Other ingredients are Purified Water, Glycerin, the preservative Benzalkonium Chloride, Borax and Boric Acid (to balance the pH to help avoid stinging) and Disodium Edetate. The pack contains 10ml of the drops. Licence holder: Optrex Limited, Slough, SL1 3UH, UK. Manufacturer: Tubilux Pharma, Via Costarica, 20/22. 00071 Pomezia (Roma) – Italia PL 00062/0024. Leaflet revised February 2024. 00000000/777451RCK/MU
RBL2510887
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Frequently asked questions about Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops
How do I take Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops?
Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops comes as eye drops. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops?
The active substance in Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops is naphazoline hydrochloride, witch hazel, distilled.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: naphazoline hydrochloride, witch hazel, distilled
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For temporary relief of redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults, children over 12 years and the elderly:
Gently squeeze one to two drops into the corner of each eye. No more than 4 times daily.
Children under 12 years:
Do not use.
Method of Administration
For topical application to the eye.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to hamamelis water, naphazoline, or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
This product is contraindicated in persons suffering from closed-angle glaucoma.
Do not take if you are suffering from serious eye disease or have had previous eye surgery.
Do not use while taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within 14 days of stopping this medication (see section 4.5).
Not to be used in children younger than 12 years of age.
This product must not be administered while soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses are worn (see section 4.4). Soft contact lenses must be removed prior to use and reinserted after a minimum of 15 minutes.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards (see section 4.3).
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, diabetes or increased thyroid activity consult your doctor before using the drops as naphazoline may exacerbate vasoconstriction. For the same reason this product should not be used as a long term ocular irrigant.
Discard any eye drops remaining 28 days after opening the container.
Continued use of this product may increase redness of the eye.
Use of naphazoline in the eye may liberate pigment granules from the iris, especially when given in high doses to elderly patients.
Benzalkonium chloride has been reported to cause eye irritation, symptoms of dry eyes and may affect the tear film and corneal surface. Should be used with caution in dry eye patients and in patients where the cornea may be compromised. Patients should be monitored in case of prolonged use.
If you experience eye pain, changes in vision or continued redness of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 24 hours consult a doctor.
If the solution changes colour or becomes cloudy do not use.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
May interact with other topically applied autonomic drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma. May interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and should not be used by patients receiving such treatment or within 14 days of ceasing therapy. May reverse the antihypertensive action of drugs used in the treatment of hypertension. There may be an increased risk of arrhythmias in patients receiving cardiac glycosides, quinidine or tricyclic antidepressants.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Although the safety of Optrex Red Eyes Eye Drops during pregnancy has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the foetus to be harmful.
Breast Feeding
Although the safety of Optrex Red Eyes Eye Drops during lactation has not been established, it is unlikely that sufficient of the active ingredients will reach the breast-fed infant to be harmful.
Fertility
No known effects.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Do not drive or operate machinery if vision is blurred. Topical hamamelis water and naphazoline have no or negligible other influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Adverse events which have been associated with hamamelis water and naphazoline hydrochloride are given below, tabulated by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1000); Very rare (< 1/10,000); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse events are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
System Organ Class
Frequency
Adverse Events
Immune System Disorders
Not known
Hypersensitivity
Nervous System Disorders
Not known
Headache, dizziness
Eye Disorders
Not known
Eye irritation, eye pain, ocular hyperaemia1
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Not known
Nausea
Description of Selected Adverse Reactions
1 Following long term use a rebound secondary hyperaemia may occur.
Reporting of Suspected Adverse Reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
Symptoms
If applied in excessive quantities to the eye, it may give rise to irritation and stinging.
Post marketing data has shown that excessive systemic exposure, for example due to intentional or accidental overdose of naphazoline (including inadvertent oral ingestion), may lead to severe cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular adverse reactions.
Excessive or long-term use of this product may result in allergic conjunctivitis, allergic blepharitis or rebound conjunctival hyperaemia. Prolonged use may also lead to epithelial xerosis which can exacerbate symptoms of irritation, pain and dryness experienced in allergic conjunctivitis.
Indiscriminate use of decongestants, such as naphazoline, in an irritated eye can induce papillary dilation and precipitate angle-closure glaucoma in eyes that have narrow anterior chamber angles.
Overdosage by mouth may cause nausea, headache, depression of the central nervous system with marked reduction of body temperature and symptoms of bradycardia, sweating, drowsiness and coma, particularly in children. In addition, may cause hypertension followed by rebound hypotension.
There are no or limited data on overdose of topical hamamelis water, but risks are negligible.
Management
Treatment of adverse effects should be symptomatic and supportive.
🇷🇴 Known in Romania as
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
⚠ Not the same combination. This medicine contains Naphazoline hydrochloride, Witch hazel, distilled. The products below do not contain exactly the same set of active substances — they are not direct substitutes.
- RINOFUG 1 mg/ml over the counter partial — not the same combinationNAPHAZOLINUM · eye / ear / nose
Some of these do not contain exactly the same active substances — check each one. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.