Risks of Swallowing Eye Drops: A Health Warning

Over-the-counter eye drops provide temporary relief from an array of eye irritations, including redness, itching, tearing, dryness, discharge and swelling. These irritations may be caused by a foreign object entering the eye or by allergies.

A primary ingredient used in over-the-counter eye drops, particualrly to relieve redness associated with eye irritation, is tetrahydrozoline, a form of imidazoline. According to the National Institute of Health, tetrahydrozoline, when ingested, is poisonous and emergency medical help should be sought immediately.

Breathing Difficulty

• Ingesting eye drops may cause you to experience difficulty breathing, as though you cannot get enough air into your lungs. You may experience shortness of breath, gasping or the inability to take deep breaths.

Eye and Skin Irritation

• Skin rash or other irritation may result.

  Eye and skin irritations may result from swallowing eye drops. These may consist of blurred vision, seeing halos, floaters or blind sports and the inability to see fine detail.
  Skin discolorations, up to and including cyanosis, which is a bluish coloring of the skin, may occur.

Heart Complications

• Heart complications stemming from the ingestion of eye drops may include high blood pressure, which is 140/90, in its most moderate form, or higher. Hypotension or low blood pressure, indicated by a top reading of 90 or lower or a measure 25 points lower than a person's norm, may occur. Eye drop ingestion may also lead to arrhythmia, an abnormally slow or rapid beating of the heart, which may be accompanied by skipping beats, chest pain, shortness of breath, paleness, sweating, lightheadedness or dizziness.

Stomach Upset

• Swallowing eye drops may result in nausea and vomiting.

Disorders of the Nervous System

• Tetrahydozoline poisoning could also result in headaches, nervousness, irritability, tremors, seizures and even coma. It may also result in a decrease in body temperature.