prednisolone ophthalmic
Brand names: Pred Forte
Pred Forte is an eye drop medicine that helps reduce swelling and redness in your eye. It belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$30.57/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Pred Forte treats swelling and inflammation in your eye.
Common side effects
Eye pain, Feeling like something is in your eye, Headache
Key warnings
You should not take Pred Forte if you have certain types of eye infections.
How It Works
Pred Forte contains prednisolone acetate, which is a type of corticosteroid. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by blocking the substances in the body that cause it. This helps to relieve symptoms like redness and swelling in the eye.
How to Take It
Shake the Pred Forte bottle well before each use. Put 1 or 2 drops into your eye(s) 2 to 4 times a day. For the first 1 to 2 days, you can use it more often if needed. Do not stop using this medicine too quickly.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using Pred Forte. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Pred Forte, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store Pred Forte at room temperature, up to 77°F (25°C). Keep it upright and do not freeze it.
Serious Warnings
You should not take Pred Forte if you have certain types of eye infections. These include untreated bacterial infections, most viral infections of the cornea or conjunctiva (like herpes simplex), fungal infections, or tuberculosis of the eye. Also, do not use it if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or other corticosteroids.
Common Questions
Can Pred Forte cause glaucoma?
Can Pred Forte cause cataracts?
Can Pred Forte affect wound healing in my eye?
Can I get an infection from using Pred Forte?
What should I do if my symptoms don't improve after using Pred Forte for a few days?
Can I wear contact lenses while using Pred Forte?
Is it normal to have blurry vision after using Pred Forte?
Can Pred Forte cause allergic reactions?
Can Pred Forte cause my pupils to dilate?
Can Pred Forte cause the white part of my eye to become red?
What are the common side effects of prednisolone ophthalmic?
What drug class is prednisolone ophthalmic?
Is prednisolone ophthalmic safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for prednisolone ophthalmic
The FDA label for prednisolone ophthalmic (sold under brand names such as Pred Forte) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid (Ophthalmic) class. Pred Forte treats swelling and inflammation in your eye. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Eye pain, Feeling like something is in your eye, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 2, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages