During Ramadan, many people stop or change their eye drops because they worry the drops will break the fast. For conditions such as glaucoma, missing drops for a month can cause permanent loss of vision. Here is how to keep your eyes safe while you fast.
Major Islamic fatwa bodies hold that eye drops do not break the fast, because the eye is not considered an open passage to the stomach, even if the taste is felt in the throat. Opinions can differ, so if you are unsure, ask your own scholar; but please talk to your eye doctor before stopping any treatment.
Tip: after putting in a drop, close the eye and press gently on the inner corner, next to the nose, for one to two minutes. This keeps the drop in the eye, reduces the taste in the throat and lowers side effects.
| Usual dosing | Suggested timing in Ramadan |
|---|---|
| Once a day (for example latanoprost, bimatoprost, travoprost) | At the same time every day: after iftar or at suhoor |
| Twice a day (for example timolol, brimonidine, dorzolamide) | One dose at suhoor and one after iftar |
| Three or four times a day, or after surgery | Discuss with your eye doctor before Ramadan; if drops cannot be fitted into the non-fasting hours, your doctor may change the medicine or suggest laser treatment |
Never stop glaucoma drops without advice. Glaucoma damage does not cause symptoms until it is advanced, and lost vision does not come back.
Long hours without water, hot weather and less sleep can make the eyes dry and tired. Drink plenty of water between iftar and suhoor, avoid too much tea and coffee, use preservative-free lubricating drops, and take breaks from screens.
Blurred vision during the fast can be a sign of low blood sugar. Check your sugar, follow your physician's fasting plan, and keep your diabetic eye check-ups. People with advanced diabetic eye disease should take medical advice before fasting.
Where Eid is celebrated with fireworks, follow our fireworks eye safety advice.
Major fatwa bodies hold that eye drops do not break the fast, even if the taste reaches the throat. If unsure, ask your scholar, and speak to your eye doctor before stopping any treatment.
Once-daily drops can be used after iftar or at suhoor at a fixed time; twice-daily drops at suhoor and after iftar. Never stop glaucoma drops without advice.
Dehydration, heat and less sleep reduce tear production. Drink water between iftar and suhoor and use preservative-free lubricating drops.
Related: Eye Care for Hajj and Umrah, How to put eye drops, Glaucoma treatment.
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