Do eye drops really expire?

Is an unopened bottle of Systane that's 1.5 years past its expiration date safe to use? At least until I can get to the store for a fresh bottle?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I used a 2 year old unopened bottle of systane in my eyes this morning (I'm on a trip to Washington DC). The expiration date has nothing to do with the medicine efficacy it is an inventory control thing.

We have two Eye MDs that take our out of date samples to third world clinics and they work fine

JCH MD

[Nancy T]

Great! Thanks, Dr. Hagan, and I hope you have a good trip.

Off to the torture of instilling eyedrops... gulp...

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

"Good trip" is out the window. Our flight is 4 hours delayed and we may get stuck in Washington DC tonight. Flying in the East is difficult.

JCH MD

[Nancy T]

Aack! Flight delays are rotten. I'll just wish you good luck, then.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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