I use tiopex eye drops but only in 1 eye. There's always some drops left in the tube. Can I use the same tube for the following day?

[Anx-eye-ty]

Suspected glaucoma for a year.

[Choirlover]

In November last year, after not being able to obtain my usual prescription of Fixtapost (there was a national shortage apparently), I was informed by two pharmacists that I could reuse the capsule provided I kept the opened top away from my eye and fingers ie keep it as sterile as possible and store it back in the packaging until the next day. In this way I managed to get through the shortage. I continued doing this for one more month but ordering the prescription as usual, so that I now have a spare box in case the unavailability of the drops occurs again. It has happened twice to me in the last two years.

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi there, we do not recommend doing this. Once opened, it could start to harbour bacteria. We suggest that even if there is any left then you dispose of the vial and not keep it till the next day.

[Longwalks3]

Ask your consultant for his opinion is my advice. Mine has told me it's OK to use up the rest of a single use vial the next day as long as you are careful to keep the end of the tube clean. I have never had any problem with infection and have been doing this for several years.