What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using Voltaren Ophthalmic?
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Had multiple eye surgeries in a short period of time
- Dry eyes
- Bleeding problems (or are taking a blood-thinning medication)
- Any allergies, including allergies to medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other drugs you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Voltaren Ophthalmic Warnings and Precautions
Some precautions and warnings to be aware of prior to taking
Voltaren Ophthalmic include the following:
- All NSAIDs, including Voltaren Ophthalmic, may cause slow or delayed healing, especially if combined with steroid eye drops.
- Voltaren Ophthalmic can interact with certain medications (see Voltaren Ophthalmic Drug Interactions).
- Let your healthcare provider know if you develop severe eye pain, redness, wateriness, or sensitivity to light. It is a good idea to at least check with your healthcare provider if you are concerned, even if you are unsure if the problems are simply normal side effects of surgery.
- Voltaren Ophthalmic may be more likely to cause serious eye problems in people with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, dry eyes, or multiple recent eye surgeries. Extra caution and monitoring is recommended in such circumstances.
- Research suggests that starting NSAID eye drops more than 24 hours before surgery or continuing them for more than 14 days after surgery may increase the risk of serious eye problems.
- Do not wear soft contact lenses (except "bandage" type lenses especially for use after surgery) with this product.
- NSAIDs may increase the risk of bleeding. Although this risk is minimized because Voltaren Ophthalmic is taken as an eye drop, some risk may still be present, especially in people with a bleeding disorder or who are taking "blood thinner" medications.
- Voltaren Ophthalmic is a pregnancy Category C medicine, which means it might not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are currently unknown (see Diclofenac and Pregnancy for more information).
- It is unknown if Voltaren Ophthalmic passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding a child, check with your healthcare provider (or your child's healthcare provider) before using this medicine (see Diclofenac and Breastfeeding).
