Question Regarding Dosing Prednisolone Eye Drops Four Times Daily
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist clarifies the dosing of prednisolone eye drops that were prescribed to be used four times daily.

Question
Hi, I have been prescribed prednisolone eye drops for an eye infection. The label and my doctor told me to apply them to my eye four times a day. I just am not sure what that means exactly. Does it mean every 6 hours or just during the hours I'm awake?

Answered by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist
Staff
Last updated Feb 15, 2025
Answer
Thanks for your question!
If you have been prescribed prednisolone eye drops to be administered four times daily, it generally means dosing them four times, as evenly spaced as possible, within your waking hours. Unless specifically instructed otherwise by your doctor, there is typically no need to wake up in the middle of the night to administer your drops.
Being prescribed prednisolone eye drops four times daily aligns with the dosage instructions in the prescribing information for the drug:
Shake well before using. Instill one to two drops into the conjunctival sac two to four times daily.
Dosing four times a day is recommended due to the duration of the drug's effectiveness in treating the inflammation in your eye caused by your infection. The drops work locally in the eye's tissues and are broken down there. They control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation, which will (hopefully) help relieve some of the discomfort you are feeling in your eye.
If you have any further questions or concerns about your medication, it's always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider. We are always more than happy to answer any additional questions you have as well.
Thanks for reaching out!
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
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