Eyes
Dry eye drops, eye antibiotics and eye NSAIDs
Calcineurin inhibitor, antibiotic or NSAID eye drops
Other names: cyclosporine, Restasis, Cequa, artificial tears, eye antibiotic drops, ketorolac eye drops
Wait
24 hours
after the first dose of cyclosporine, ketorolac, tobramycin or gatifloxacin eye drops
Other FAA documents add more.
The FAA's eye medication page lists cyclosporine (Restasis), NSAID eye drops for pain management and after surgery, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and antibiotics as acceptable, if the underlying condition is acceptable, as a single agent or combination product.
Track your medicationsCompare FAA documents: Dry eye drops, eye antibiotics and eye NSAIDsWhat each of the three FAA documents says, in plain wordsOpen
Wait
- for ketorolac drops, after each dose, no flying or safety-related duties while experiencing blurry vision or pain
- none for artificial tears (the FAA's MedGuide)
The FAA's over-the-counter guide lists products for dry eyes and artificial tears, notes that temporary blurry vision may occur with use of eye drops, and says eye ointment or gels should not be used in flight since the blurry vision may last for minutes.
The FAA's MedGuide names cyclosporine eye drops (Restasis), for dry eye disease, tobramycin eye drops (Tobrex), for bacterial infections, and gatifloxacin eye drops (Zymaxid), for conjunctivitis, as allowed with a wait of 24 hours after the first dose and none after later doses or after the final dose; ketorolac eye drops (Acular, Acuvail), for allergic conjunctivitis and after surgery, with 24 hours after the first dose and, after each dose, no flying or safety-related duties while experiencing blurry vision or pain; and artificial tears (LubriTears, Refresh, Rohto, Systane, Visine AC) with no wait; each used as prescribed or per label directions. The MedGuide defines allowed as acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.
- cyclosporine, ketorolac, tobramycin or gatifloxacin eye drops: 24 hours after the first dose: ground observation
Show the FAA's words: Dry eye drops, eye antibiotics and eye NSAIDsThe official FAA wording: three passages, each with its document and dateOpen
ACEPTABLE Medications, if the underlying condition is acceptable (as a single agent or combination product).
Calcineurin Inhibitor cyclosporine (Restasis)
Pain management; Postoperative surgery
NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug)
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Antibiotics
Generic: cycloSPORINE (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Restasis
Drug Class: Calcineurin Inhibitor; Immunosuppressant Agent
Underlying Condition: Dry eye disease; Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 24 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: As prescribed
Generic: ketorolac (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Acular; Acuvail; Apsolox [INTL]
Drug Class: NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug), ophthalmic
Underlying Condition: Allergic conjunctivitis; Postoperative surgery
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 24 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): Do not fly or perform SRD while experiencing blurry vision or pain.
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: As prescribed
Generic: tobramycin (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Tobrex
Drug Class: Antibiotic; Aminoglycoside
Underlying Condition: Bacterial infections
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 24 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: As prescribed
Generic: gatifloxacin (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: Zymaxid; Tequin [INTL]
Drug Class: Antibiotic (Fluroquinolone), ophthalmic
Underlying Condition: Conjunctivitis
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 24 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: As prescribed
Generic: artificial tears; carboxymethylcellulose; propylene glycol; tetrahydrozoline (ophthalmic)
Brand Name: LubriTears; Refresh; Rohto; Systane; Visine AC [OTC]
Drug Class: Vasoconstrictor
Underlying Condition: Eye redness
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): None
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Dry or itchy eyes
Products for dry eyes
Allergy/itchy eyes
Eye lubrication
olopatadine (Pataday)
alcaftadine (Lastacaft)
artificial tears
Eye ointment or gel during flight.
Temporary blurry vision may occur with use of eye drops.
Note: Eye ointment or gels should not be used in flight since the blurry vision may last for minutes.
ALLOWED: The medication is acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.