Sterile, aqueous or oily solutions or dispersions of one or more medicinal substances intended for application to the eye by instillation into the conjunctival sac. They are usually used for local therapy of eye diseases.
Pharmaceuticals are absorbed from eye drops not only via the conjunctiva, but also via the nasal mucous membrane after passage through the lacrimal duct. Eye drops containing lipophilic drugs such as clonidine and timolol therefore also have systemic effects.