Ganciclovir belongs to the class of medications called antivirals. Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel is used to treat eye infections affecting the cornea, that are caused by herpes viruses.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The recommended adult dose of ganciclovir eye gel is one drop of gel in the infected eye(s) 5 times daily (approximately every 3 hours while awake) until the eye is healed. After healing, use one drop of gel into the infected eye(s) 3 times a day for 7 days.

To use the eye drops:

• Wash your hands before using the eye drops.
• Remove the cap and place it in a clean location. To avoid possible contamination, keep the tip of the container away from contact with any surface.
• Tilt your head back and look towards the ceiling.
• With your index finger, gently pull the lower eyelid down and away from the eye to form a pouch.
• Apply one drop into the pouch by following the instructions on the eye drop container. Do not allow the tip of the container to touch the eye or area around the eye.
• Gently apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye (at the bridge of the nose) for about 30 seconds (this is called nasolacrimal occlusion). This prevents the medication from dripping down through the tear duct and entering the bloodstream, which could cause you to experience some side effects.
• Repeat with the other eye, if prescribed by your physician.
• Wash your hands again to remove any medication.

Do not allow the bottle's dropper tip to touch the eye or other surrounding structures. This can contaminate the tip with common bacteria known to cause eye infections. Serious damage to the eye may result if you use eye drop solutions that have become contaminated.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children. Safely discard any medication that remains after 30 days of first opening the tube container.

Each gram of sterile, preserved, opalescent, colourless, topical ophthalmic gel contains 1.5 mg of ganciclovir. Nonmedicinal ingredients: benzalkonium chloride (as preservative), carbomer, sodium hydroxide, sorbitol, and water.

Do not take this medication if you:

• are allergic to ganciclovir or any ingredients of the medication
• are allergic to valganciclovir or acyclovir

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• altered sense of taste
• blurred vision
• burning, stinging, or tingling in the eye
• feeling of something in the eye
• red or swollen eye lids
• sensitivity to light
• watery eyes

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• symptoms of inflamed or ulcerated cornea (e.g., blurred or decreased vision, eye redness or pain, grittiness in the eye, sensitivity to light)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Birth control: Anyone using this medication who could impregnate another should use a barrier form of birth control while using this medication and for up to 3 months after the last dose. People who can become pregnant should use birth control while they are taking this medication.

Contact lenses: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication while wearing contact lenses has not been established. In general, you should not wear contact lenses while you have an eye infection. The preservative in this medication may cause discolouration of soft contact lenses.

Driving/operating machinery: Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel may cause blurred vision or eye irritation, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid driving until you know how this medication affects you.

Other eye drops: If you are using other eye drops or ointments, allow at least 15 minutes to pass before using the second medication.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if ganciclovir ophthalmic gel passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding, however breast-feeding is generally not recommended when using ganciclovir ophthalmic gel.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.

For a full list of interactions, use the Drug Interaction Checker available on the Drugs.com website.

If you are taking other medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.