Opatanol Eye Drops (Olopatadine 1mg/ml) – 5ml

Opatanol is a prescription-only antihistamine eye drop containing olopatadine. It is used for itchy, watery or red eyes caused by seasonal allergies such as hay fever (allergic conjunctivitis). At Ways Pharmacy it is supplied under our hay fever service only after a pharmacist has checked your symptoms and health and confirmed that it is suitable for you. It can be supplied on its own or alongside a nasal spray if both are suitable.

How to access this medicine

1. Start your free online assessment. Complete a short questionnaire and confirm your identity by uploading photo ID or showing it on a video call.
2. Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. A GPhC-registered pharmacist contacts you by phone or video to go through your answers and confirm whether the medicine is suitable. The pharmacist will ask about your eye symptoms, contact lenses and any other eye conditions.
3. If suitable, order and pay on this page. Once the pharmacist confirms the medicine is suitable, you select the eye drops and check out on this page, or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable — including when the pharmacist recommends self-care instead — you pay nothing and the pharmacist explains your other options. If you have already paid and the pharmacist finds the medicine is not suitable, you receive a full refund.
4. We post your medicine or you collect it. Once approved, orders placed by 3pm on a weekday are posted the same day (see our shipping policy), or you can collect from Holborn.

There is no separate consultation fee. If the medicine you chose is not suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option. Young people aged 12 to 17 can use the online service, but a parent or guardian must be present on the video call.

About this medicine

How to use

• One drop into each affected eye twice a day. Do not use more than this
• Wash your hands first and do not let the dropper tip touch your eye or anything else
• If you use other eye drops, leave at least 5 minutes between them
• Throw the bottle away 4 weeks after first opening, even if some is left. Do not share your eye drops
• If you need to use it for longer than 4 months, speak to the pharmacist or your GP

Contact lenses: Opatanol contains a preservative (benzalkonium chloride) that can be absorbed by soft lenses. Take soft lenses out before using the drops and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in. See our hay fever treatment service for more information.

Warnings and who should not use this medicine

• Children under 12
• Anyone allergic to olopatadine or any of the other ingredients
• A painful red eye, sensitivity to light, changes to your vision, or symptoms in one eye only — get same-day help from an optician, eye casualty or NHS 111
• Severe eye symptoms that need assessment by an eye specialist
• Opatanol is generally not recommended during pregnancy and should not be used while breastfeeding — tell the pharmacist, who can suggest another option

Tell the pharmacist if you have glaucoma, dry eyes or another eye condition, wear contact lenses, or already use other allergy medicines.

Possible side effects

Common side effects include eye pain or irritation, dry eyes, an unusual feeling in the eye, headache, a change in taste, a dry nose and tiredness. Your vision may be blurred for a short time after putting the drops in — do not drive or use machines until it clears. Stop using it and get medical help if your eyes become very painful or swollen, or you have signs of an allergic reaction.

Regulatory information

• Legal status: Prescription-only medicine (POM), supplied under a Patient Group Direction after pharmacist assessment
• Pharmacy: Ways Pharmacy, 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · GPhC-registered premises 9012227
• Patient information leaflet: electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)
• Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme

This page gives factual information about a prescription-only medicine and is not an advertisement to the public. It is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.