2. What should I know before I use ACULAR®?
Check the list of ingredients at the end of the CMI. Do not use ACULAR® if you have
ever had an allergic reaction to any of them.
Talk to your doctor before you use this medicine if he/she is not aware that you have
any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with ACULAR® and affect how it works, or ACULAR® may
interfere with other medicines and affect how they work. A list of these medicines
is in Section
3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How do I use ACULAR®?
Your doctor will advise how many drops to use depending on your condition.
Use the drops four times per day.
Your doctor will advise when to start using the drops and when to finish.
5. What should I know while using ACULAR®?
|
Things you should do
|
Remind any doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or optometrist you visit that you are using
ACULAR®.
Continue to use ACULAR® for the time period your doctor tells you.
Keep all your follow-up appointments so your condition can be checked.
|
|
Things you should not do
|
Do not touch the dropper tip against your eye, eye lid or any surface.
Do not stop using ACULAR® earlier than instructed or use it for longer than instructed
without checking with your doctor.
Do not use ACULAR® drops while you are wearing soft contact lenses.
|
|
Driving or using machines
|
Wait for your vision to clear after using ACULAR® before you drive or use machines.
|
|
Drinking alcohol
|
There is no information on the effects of using ACULAR® with alcohol.
|
|
Looking after your medicine
|
Follow all instructions on the carton and bottle label.
Store it in a cool place, below 25°C, away from heat, or sunlight.
|
6. Are there any side effects?
Stinging and burning of the eye(s) when applying the eye drops (eye pain), blurred
vision, infection, swelling at the front of the eye or the iris, red itchy eye(s),
irritation of the surface of the eye, , drooping or swollen lid, sensitivity to light,
dry eye, lesion on the front of the eye, increased eye pressure, white spots on eye
surface, headache, bleeding or swelling of retina, asthma, bronchospasm, severe allergic
reaction.
Active ingredient(s):
ketorolac trometamol (keet-oh-roll-ack troh-met-am-ol)
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using ACULAR® eye drops. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using ACULAR®.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using ACULAR®?
ACULAR® contains the active ingredient ketorolac trometamol.
Ketorolac trometamol works by decreasing prostaglandin E2 levels in the eye. Prostaglandins
are normally produced by the body and are thought to be associated with pain, itching
and inflammation.
ACULAR® is used in adults:
to treat itchy eyes occurring with the condition called seasonal allergic conjunctivitis,
and
to prevent and relieve swelling and redness after cataract surgery.
2. What should I know before I use ACULAR®?
Warnings
Do not use ACULAR® if :
you are allergic to ketorolac trometamol, or any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
you have ever had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other similar medicines used
for arthritis or pain relief (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)).
the seal around the cap is broken.
the bottle/packaging shows signs of tampering.
the product does not look quite right.
the expiry date on the bottle has passed.
Check with your doctor if you:
have or have had a stomach ulcer
have or have had problems with your lungs, such as asthma, bronchospasm
have or have had problems with the surface of your eye (cornea)
have or have had other eye conditions, such as dry eye syndrome
have had recent eye surgery
have diabetes
have rheumatoid arthritis
are using topical NSAIDs for any other condition
have a condition that causes you to bleed or bruise easily
take any medicines for any other condition.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Make sure your doctor is aware that you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or
are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
ACULAR® is not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Children
It is not known if ACULAR® is safe and effective for use in children younger than
12 years of age.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your optical practitioner, doctor or pharmacist if you are using any other medicines,
including any medicines, vitamins, or supplements that you buy without a prescription
from your pharmacy, supermarket, or health food store.
Some medicines may interfere with ACULAR® and affect how it works; while ACULAR® may
affect how other medicines work.
Using ACULAR® at the same time as other eye medicines, including similar medicines
(NSAIDs) and steroids, may slow down the healing process, after surgery.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect
ACULAR®.
4. How do I use ACULAR®?
How much to use
Your doctor will tell you how many drops you need to use each day. Use ACULAR® as prescribed by your doctor.
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
Use one drop in your eye(s) four times each day.
Cataract surgery
Use one to two drops in your eye(s) four times each day.
When to use ACULAR®
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
Continue to use the drops as instructed for up to four weeks.
Cataract surgery
Use the drops as instructed starting 24 hours before surgery.
Continue to use the drops for as long as your doctor advises, which may be up to 4
weeks.
In some instances, ACULAR® needs to be used with other eye drops. Your doctor will
let you know which drops, how to use them and how long to use them.
How to use ACULAR®
These drops are for topical use only.
1. Wash your hands well with soap and water.
2. If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before using ACULAR®.
3. Tear off the protective seal on any new bottle and throw the seal away. Remove the
lid/cap.
4. Hold the bottle upside down in one hand between your thumb and index finger.
5. Using your other hand, gently pull down your lower eyelid to form a pouch or pocket.
6. Tilt your head back and look up. This might be easier if you are sitting or lying
down.
7. Put the tip of the bottle close to your lower eyelid. Do not let the tip touch your
eye or eyelid.
8. Release one drop into the pouch or pocket formed between your eye and eyelid by gently
squeezing the bottle.
9. If a drop misses your eye, try again, and wipe off any excess that runs down your
cheek.
10. Close your eye. Do not blink or rub your eye.
11. While your eye is closed, place your index finger against the inside corner of your
eye and press against your nose for about two minutes. This will help to stop the
medicine from draining through the tear duct to the nose and throat, from where it
can be absorbed into other parts of your body.
12. Replace the lid/cap, sealing it tightly.
13. Wash your hands again with soap and water.
14. If you wear soft contact lenses, wait 15 minutes before replacing your contact lenses.
If you forget to use ACULAR®
It is important that you use ACULAR® at the same times each day.
If you forget to use ACULAR® and it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose
you missed and use your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, use the drops as soon as you remember, and then go back to using them as
you would normally.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not use double the number of drops to make up for the dose you missed.
If you use too much ACULAR®
Immediately rinse your eyes with warm water.
If ACULAR® is accidentally swallowed, you should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
by calling
13 11
26
, or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there appear to be no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while using ACULAR®?
Things you should do
If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before using ACULAR® eye drops, and wait
at least 15 minutes before inserting them again. The preservative in ACULAR® eye drops
(benzalkonium chloride) may be absorbed and cause discolouration of soft contact lenses.
Tell your doctor if you think your eye(s) is/are not improving while using ACULAR®.
Call your doctor straight away if you:
develop problems with your eyes, such as trauma, surgery, infection in the eye(s)
or eyelid(s)
become pregnant while using ACULAR®
Remind any doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or optometrist you visit that you are using
ACULAR®.
Things you should not do
Do not to touch the dropper tip against your eye, eyelid, or anything else, to avoid
contaminating the eye drops and to avoid injury to the eye caused by the tip.
Do not stop using ACULAR® earlier than instructed or use it for longer than instructed
without checking with your doctor.
Driving or using machines
Wait for your vision to clear after using ACULAR® before you drive or use machines.
Looking after your medicine
Follow the instructions on the label and carton on how to take care of your medicine
properly.
Store it in a cool place below 25°C away from heat or sunlight; for example:
do not store it in the bathroom or near a sink, or
do not store it in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
When to discard your medicine
Discard the bottle 4 weeks after first opening it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If your doctor advises that you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of
date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most
of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your optical practitioner, doctor
or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Side effects listed below could include the symptoms such as eye pain, difficulty
reading, sensitivity to light, seeing halos around lights, sudden vision loss, vision
getting noticeably worse or blurry, blind or dark spots in vision, seeing flashes
or floaters, headache, red or bloodshot eye, eye itching and discharge, and white
patch on the front layer of the eyeball.
Less serious side effects
|
Less serious side effects
|
What to do
|
|
Effects on the eye:
burning and stinging of the eye(s) when applying eye drops
blurred vision
itching, redness of the eye(s)
irritation of the surface of the eye or feeling of having something in the eye
pain in the eye
drooping of the upper eyelid
swollen eyelid
uncomfortable sensitivity to light
dry eye
changes to vision.
Effects on the body as a whole:
headache.
|
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
|
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making
you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems in Australia. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on
the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
using any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What ACULAR® contains
|
Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
|
ketorolac trometamol
|
|
Preservative
|
benzalkonium chloride
|
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
disodium edetate
hydrochloric acid
octoxinol 40
purified water
sodium chloride
sodium hydroxide
|
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What ACULAR® looks like
ACULAR® is a clear, colourless to pale-yellow solution. It is supplied in a white
opaque plastic dropper bottles with a dropper tip containing 3 mL, 5 mL or 10 mL of
liquid which are enclosed in a carton.
(AUST R 63539).
(Not all presentations may be available.)
Who distributes ACULAR®?
ACULAR® is distributed in Australia by:
AbbVie Pty Ltd
Mascot NSW 2020
AUSTRALIA
Ph: 1800 252 224
This leaflet was prepared in July 2025.
©2025 AbbVie. All rights reserved.
ACULAR® and its design are trademarks of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company