Fluorometholone (flure-oh-METH-oh-lone)

Treats eye inflammation. This medicine is a corticosteroid (steroid medicine).

Brand Name(s):

FML Forte Liquifilm, FML Liquifilm, Flarex

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Liquid, Ointment, Drop

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
• Lie down or tilt your head back. With your index finger, pull down the lower lid of your eye to form a pocket.
• Eye drops: Hold the dropper close to your eye with the other hand. Drop the correct number of drops into the pocket made between your lower lid and eyeball. Gently close your eyes. Place your index finger over the inner corner of your eye for 1 minute. Do not rinse or wipe the dropper or allow it to touch anything, including your eye. Put the cap on the bottle right away. Keep the bottle upright when you are not using it.
  • Remove contact lenses before you put the eye drops in your eyes. Wait at least 15 minutes after you use the eye drops before you put your contact lenses back in. Talk to your eye doctor about this if you have questions.
  • Shake the eye drops well just before each use.
• Ointment: Hold the tip of the tube close to your eye with the other hand. Avoid touching the tip of the tube to your eye or finger. Squeeze a ribbon of ointment into the pocket between your lower lid and eyeball. Close your eyes for 1 to 2 minutes. Wipe the tip with a clean tissue and close the tube tightly. Keep the tube tightly closed when you are not using it.

If a dose is missed:

• Apply a dose as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and apply a regular dose. Do not apply extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Eye drops may be refrigerated. Keep from freezing. Store eye drops in an upright position.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of the used medicine container and any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have another eye problem (such as glaucoma, infection, a thinning cornea or sclera, or a history of herpes simplex) or recent cataract surgery.
• This medicine may increase the fluid pressure inside your eye or cause other eye problems, including glaucoma or cataracts. It may also weaken your immune system. This could cause other eye infections, or worsen infections you already have. You will need regular eye exams to check for these problems if you use this medicine longer than 10 days.
• This medicine may slow healing. Avoid using it after cataract surgery unless directed by your doctor.
• If you hurt your eye, develop an eye infection, or need to have eye surgery, talk with your doctor right away. You may need to change your medicine or stop using it.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. This is more likely if you use the medicine for a long time.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. You may need to stop using this medicine if your eyes do not improve after 2 days of use.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Discharge from the eye
• Eye pain
• Severe redness, blurred vision, or eye irritation

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Burning or stinging when you put the drops in your eyes
• Feeling of having something in the eye

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088