Natamycin 5% Eye drops

Category- Allopathy

About Natamycin 5% Eye drops

Natamycin 5% eye drops is an antifungal eye medicine and is used to treat fungal infections of the eyes, especially fungal keratitis (fungal infection of the cornea). It works by stopping the growth of fungi and helping clear the infection. Natamycin 5% eye drops help reduce redness, pain, irritation, swelling, and discharge caused by fungal eye infections. 

Common side effects of Natamycin 5% eye drops include eye irritation, redness, watering of the eyes, blurred vision, burning sensation, and discomfort after application. Rare but serious side effects may include severe allergic reactions, severe eye pain, swelling, or worsening of vision. This medicine should be used exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Avoid touching the dropper tip to prevent contamination. Use with caution in patients wearing contact lenses or those with severe eye conditions. In case of overdose or accidental swallowing, seek immediate medical attention. Always follow your doctor’s instructions while using Natamycin 5% eye drops.   

Medicine Highlights

Natamycin 5% eye drops Uses

Natamycin 5% eye drops is used to treat the following conditions: 

1. Fungal keratitis 
2. Fungal eye infections 
3. Eye redness caused by fungal infection 
4. Eye irritation due to fungal infection 
5. Corneal fungal infections             

Natamycin 5% eye drops side effects 

More Common

1. Eye irritation 
2. Burning sensation 
3. Eye redness 
4. Watery eyes 
5. Blurred vision 
6. Eye discomfort          

Less Common 

1. Eye swelling 
2. Severe eye pain 
3. Allergic reactions 
4. Increased sensitivity to light 
5. Temporary vision changes         

How Natamycin 5% eye drops work 

Natamycin 5% eye drops works by stopping the growth of fungi responsible for eye infections. It damages the fungal cell membrane, which helps clear the infection and improves eye health. 

Safety Measures and Warning 

Allergy / Hypersensitivity

Natamycin 5% eye drops may cause allergic reactions such as itching, swelling, severe redness, skin rash, or breathing difficulty. If these symptoms occur, stop using the medicine and contact your doctor immediately.

Eye Irritation or Vision Problem

Natamycin 5% eye drops may sometimes cause burning, irritation, blurred vision, or eye discomfort after application. If severe pain, worsening redness, swelling, or vision changes occur, consult your doctor immediately as the infection may be worsening.

Pregnancy

Natamycin 5% eye drops should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed and prescribed by the doctor. Using medicines without medical advice during pregnancy may affect the mother or baby. Always consult your doctor before use.

Breastfeeding

It is not clearly known whether Natamycin passes into breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers should use this medicine only after consulting a doctor to avoid unwanted effects in the baby.

Natamycin 5% eye drops Interaction with Food Product 

No specific food interactions are known with Natamycin 5% eye drops.

Natamycin 5% eye drops Interaction with Other Medicines  

Avoid taking Natamycin 5% eye drops with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:

Natamycin 5% eye drops Chemical Structure

IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name

Natamycin: (1R,3S,5R,7R,8E,12R,14E,16E,18E,20E,22R,24S,25R,26S)-22-[(2R,3S,4S,5S,6R)-4-amino-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,26-trihydroxy-12-methyl-10-oxo-6,11,28-trioxatricyclo[22.3.1.0^5,7]octacosa-8,14,16,18,20-pentaene-25-carboxylic acid 

Intake routine/cycle

Daily dose

Take Natamycin 5% eye drops exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.

Overdose

Using excess Natamycin 5% eye drops may cause increased irritation, redness, or discomfort in the eye. If severe symptoms occur or if accidentally swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.

Storage

1. Store the medicine at room temperature. 
2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture. 
3. Keep out of reach of children 

Directions for use 

1. Take Natamycin 5% eye drops exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day. 
2. Do not stop taking Natamycin 5% eye drops without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better. 
3. If you forget to take Natamycin 5% eye drops, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.   

FAQ’s

What are the uses of Natamycin 5% eye drops? 

Natamycin 5% eye drops are used to treat fungal infections of the eye, especially fungal keratitis (fungal infection of the cornea). It helps reduce redness, pain, irritation, swelling, and discharge caused by fungal infections.

What is the mechanism of action (MOA) of Natamycin 5% eye drops? 

Natamycin works by damaging the fungal cell membrane, which stops the growth of fungi and helps clear the infection from the eye.

What are the side effects of Natamycin 5% eye drops? 

Common side effects of Natamycin 5% eye drops include eye irritation, burning sensation, redness, watery eyes, blurred vision, and mild eye discomfort after application. Rarely, it may cause swelling, severe pain, or allergic reactions.

Reference  

1. PubChem. Natamycin [Internet]. Nih.gov. PubChem; 2026 [cited 2026 May 19]. Available from 
2. Natamycin [Internet]. go.drugbank.com. Available from 
3. Patil A, Lakhani P, Majumdar S. Current perspectives on natamycin in ocular fungal infections. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2017 Oct;41:206–12.  

Pranathi Chintaluri

Pranathi is a final year Pharm D student at Chalapathi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She loves learning and applying her knowledge in pharmacy and has a passion for writing, which allows her to express ideas clearly and creatively. She enjoys combining her technical skills with her love for writing and communication to make a meaningful impact. Currently she is working on a research paper about “Consanguineous marriages and its impact on children’s health” which will be published by the end of 2025.