prednisolone acetate at a glance
Medicine class
Ophthalmic corticosteroid
Licensed role
Short-term treatment of steroid-responsive eye inflammation in adults after excluding infection
Before use
Shake the suspension well and wash your hands
Contact lenses
Remove soft lenses before use and wait at least 15 minutes before replacing them
What is prednisolone acetate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed in adults for:
Short-term treatment of eye conditions that respond to corticosteroids, once viral, fungal and bacterial causes have been excluded.
How does prednisolone acetate work?
Prednisolone acetate enters cells in the eye and activates glucocorticoid receptors. This changes inflammatory protein production and reduces swelling, widened blood vessels, immune-cell movement and tissue scarring.
prednisolone acetate preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 1% w/v
How to take prednisolone acetate
Use only in the affected eye or eyes as prescribed.
Wash your hands and shake the bottle well.
Pull down the lower eyelid and place the drop into the resulting pocket.
Do not touch the dropper tip against the eye, fingers or another surface.
Close the eye and press gently at the inner corner beside the nose for one minute to reduce absorption into the body.
Replace the cap promptly. If a drop misses the eye, try again.
Do not drive or operate machinery until temporary blurred vision has cleared.
prednisolone acetate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reported local effects of unknown frequency include mild stinging, irritation, redness, blurred vision and a feeling that something is in the eye.
- Other reported effects of unknown frequency include headache, altered taste, itching or rash.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe eye pain or an ulcer on the eye surface
- Allergic reaction
- Raised pressure within the eye or glaucoma-related visual damage
- Cataract or persistent visual disturbance
- New or worsening bacterial, fungal or viral eye infection
- Corneal or scleral thinning leading to perforation
prednisolone acetate in pregnancy
The product information advises cautious use during pregnancy only when the expected benefit outweighs potential risk. Topical corticosteroids, including eye drops, result in little systemic absorption when used as directed; treatment should still be reviewed with the prescriber or eye specialist.
prednisolone acetate while breastfeeding
The product information does not recommend use while breastfeeding because transfer into milk has not been established. NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service considers ophthalmic prednisolone compatible with breastfeeding in a full-term, healthy infant because maternal and milk concentrations should be negligible; the prescriber should resolve this product-specific difference.
prednisolone acetate interactions
Tell the prescriber about all eye treatments and other medicines. Important considerations include:
Strong CYP3A inhibitors, including cobicistat or ritonavir
They may increase systemic corticosteroid exposure and adverse effects; combined use requires a benefit–risk assessment and monitoring.
Other corticosteroid eye drops
Frequent or prolonged combined exposure may increase corticosteroid-related eye and systemic adverse effects.
Common questions about prednisolone acetate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is prednisolone acetate an antibiotic?
No. It is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and has no antimicrobial action.
Can prednisolone acetate treat an eye infection?
It does not treat infection and can mask or worsen one. Infection should be excluded or appropriately treated by a clinician.
Why must prednisolone acetate eye drops be shaken?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.