Fluorometholone ophthalmic: what it is and when it helps

Steroid eye drops like fluorometholone (often sold as FML) calm inflammation after eye surgery, allergic reactions, or other inflammatory eye conditions. They can work fast to reduce redness, swelling, and pain, but they’re not a catch‑all — and they come with important risks you should know about.

How to use fluorometholone safely

Always follow your prescriber. Typical practice is one drop in the affected eye(s) a few times daily, then a gradual taper. Don’t self-adjust frequency or stop suddenly without advice — steroids usually need a short taper to avoid rebound inflammation.

Practical steps when placing drops:

• Wash hands first. Remove contact lenses unless your doctor says otherwise.
• Tilt your head back, pull the lower lid down, and instill one drop into the pocket. Try not to touch the bottle tip to your eye.
• Close your eye and gently press the inner corner (near the nose) for about one minute to reduce systemic absorption.
• Wait 5 minutes between different eye medicines to avoid washing one out with another.
• Store the bottle at room temperature and keep the cap on. Check the expiry date and discard if cloudy or changed in color.

Side effects & warnings

Fluorometholone is milder than some other ocular steroids but still carries risks. The main concerns are increased eye pressure (can lead to glaucoma if untreated), cataract formation with long‑term use, and masking or worsening of eye infections. You might notice stinging, burning, blurred vision, or a metallic taste after dosing — these are common and usually temporary.

Call your doctor right away if you get new or worsening eye pain, sudden vision changes, growing redness, flashes of light, or signs of infection like pus. Don’t use steroid drops if you have a viral eye infection (like herpes simplex) unless a specialist prescribes them alongside antiviral treatment.

Special groups: pregnant or breastfeeding people and young children should discuss risks and benefits with their prescriber. If you have glaucoma or are a steroid responder (you’ve had pressure spikes with steroids before), your doctor will monitor intraocular pressure while you use these drops.

Bottom line: fluorometholone can be very effective for eye inflammation when used correctly. Use only under a doctor’s prescription, follow dosing and taper instructions, watch for warning signs, and keep follow‑up appointments so your eyes stay safe while you heal.