TobraDex Eye Drops (Dexamethasone, Tobramycin)

TobraDex Eye Drops (Dexamethasone, Tobramycin) work

TobraDex Eye Drops (Dexamethasone, Tobramycin) contain two active ingredients, dexamethasone and tobramycin. Dexamethasone belongs to a group of medicines known as corticosteroids that are used for reducing inflammation. Tobramycin is an antibiotic that is included in these drops to prevent infections with bacteria.

Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands that have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses. Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid that can be administered into the eyes to decrease inflammation.

Eye inflammation can occur as a result of trauma to the eye during eye surgery and is caused by the release of substances that are important in the immune system. These substances cause blood vessels to widen, resulting in the affected area becoming red, swollen and painful. Corticosteroids work by acting within cells to decrease the release of these substances in a particular area, thereby reducing swelling and redness.

Tobramycin belongs to a group of antibiotics called aminoglycosides. These antibiotics have the ability to kill a wide variety of bacteria. Tobramycin works by affecting the production of certain proteins by bacteria. These proteins are necessary for the bacteria's survival. Tobramycin causes the bacteria to produce abnormal and faulty proteins, which ultimately kills the bacteria.

The combination of these medicines is applied directly into the eye after cataract surgery, to reduce inflammation and prevent infection.