Reading the label
The Drug Facts panel, one section at a time. 33 guides, newest first.
- The Other information section on an eye drop labelThe Other information section of a Drug Facts panel holds required details that fit nowhere else, like storage. What it means, and what Quell’s says.
- The Directions section on an eye drop labelWhat the Directions section of an OTC eye drop’s Drug Facts label tells you, where FDA rules place it, how to read Quell’s, and what it leaves to your doctor.
- What the barcode on an eye drop box meansThe barcode on an eye drop box is a 12-digit UPC that identifies the product, not the batch or price. How it differs from the NDC and lot number.
- What is the OTC monograph for eye drops?FDA’s OTC monograph for eye drops sets allowed active ingredients, label wording and warnings. What it says, how the CARES Act changed it, and where Quell fits.
- Are eye drops sterile?Yes. Federal rules require eye drops to be sterile when packaged. What that means for a preservative-free bottle like Quell, and how to keep it clean.
- Why eye drops have a tamper-evident sealFDA rule 21 CFR 211.132 requires tamper-evident packaging on most retail OTC drugs, eye drops included. What it means and what to do if a seal is broken.
- How are eye drop expiration dates set?Federal drug rules tie the expiration date to stability testing in the same container under set storage conditions. How it works and what it means for you.
- Lubricant eye drops vs. lubricating eye dropsLubricant and lubricating eye drops are the same kind of product. Here’s where each word comes from, what the federal rules say, and how to read the label.
- What “temporary relief” means on eye drop labelsWhy so many eye drop labels say “temporary relief,” where the wording comes from in FDA rules, and how Quell’s Uses statement differs.
- How long do eye drops last after opening?What Quell’s label says, and doesn’t say, about using a bottle once it’s opened, plus the expiration date and signs that tell you to stop using it.
- How many drops of eye drops should I take?Quell’s label says 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. What that adds up to, what to do if two drops come out, and when to ask a doctor about more.
- What the front of an eye drop box tells youThe front of an eye drop box is its principal display panel. What FDA requires there, such as identity and net quantity, and what it leaves to the back.
- Emollient eye drops: what the word meansAn emollient is an oily eye drop ingredient. How FDA’s rules define it, which ingredients qualify, and how emollient and lubricant drops differ.
- What is the NDC number on eye drops?The NDC is FDA’s three-part identifier for a drug: who labels it, what it is and how it’s packaged. How to read one, find it and look it up.
- What does “protectant” mean on eye drops?“Protectant” comes from the FDA’s rules for over-the-counter eye drops. Where the word comes from, what Quell’s Uses line says, and what it doesn’t claim.
- What is a demulcent in eye drops?A demulcent is the regulatory term for a lubricating ingredient in eye drops. How FDA defines it, which ingredients qualify, and where Quell’s fit.
- What the lot number on eye drops meansThe lot number links your bottle to the batch it was made in. Where to find it, what federal rules say about it, and when you’ll need to quote it.
- Where is the expiration date on eye drops?Look on the bottle label and on the carton, usually marked EXP beside the lot number. How to read faint dates, and what to do with a bottle past its date.
- What does “for use in the eyes only” mean?The eyes-only line on an eye drop label means the drop isn’t for ears, nose, mouth or skin. Why labels say it, and what to do if some is swallowed.
- The active ingredients on an eye drop labelWhat the Active ingredients section of a Drug Facts panel tells you, with Quell’s three actives, their strengths and their purposes.
- The inactive ingredients on an eye drop labelWhat the Inactive ingredients section lists, why it matters if you have allergies, and the full list from Quell’s Drug Facts panel.
- The Uses section on an eye drop labelThe Uses section says what an over-the-counter eye drop is for, in its maker’s approved words. What Quell’s says, and how to read it.
- The warnings on an eye drop labelHow the Warnings section of an eye drop’s Drug Facts panel is organized, with each part of Quell’s warnings set out in turn.
- Egg or bird allergy? Read this before QuellQuell’s label cautions people with egg or bird allergies, because the formula contains emu oil. What that means for you, and who to ask.
- What “do not use if it changes color” meansQuell is milky brown when it is right. What the label’s color warning asks you to watch for, and what to do if a bottle changes.
- Why you should never touch the bottle tipQuell’s label says not to touch the tip of the bottle to any surface. What counts as a surface, and why the instruction matters.
- When to stop using eye drops and see a doctorThe stop-use section of Quell’s label, explained: what it asks you to watch for, the 72-hour limit, and when it can’t wait.
- Why the label mentions 72 hoursQuell’s label says to stop and ask a doctor if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours. What that means in practice, and how to count it.
- Keeping eye drops out of children’s reachQuell’s label says to keep it out of reach of children and what to do if it is swallowed. Sensible places to keep a bottle at home and away.
- If the label and the website ever differThe panel printed on the product you receive controls if it ever differs from this website. Why, and what to do if you spot a difference.
- Eye drop label terms, explainedPlain definitions of the words on an eye drop label: active and inactive ingredients, lubricant, emollient, preservative-free, ophthalmic and more.
- Do eye drops expire?Eye drops carry an expiration date on their packaging. Where to look, the storage line on Quell’s label, and the color check that applies at any time.
- What the percentages on eye drop labels meanThe percentage beside each active ingredient is its concentration in the solution. How to read Quell’s, and why percentages are hard to compare.