Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, while attending the play Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., as the American Civil War was drawing to a close.
Eye drops have preservatives in them to ensure the sealed product remains sterile until the expiry date. After opening however, the preservative can only ensure the drops are safe for the eye for a period of 28 days. After this, using the drops can cause serious damage to the eye as bacteria may have been introduced. The ingredients themselves will also not be as effective and could be dangerous. Always record the date eye drops are opened and do not use them after 28 days. Some eye drops now have longer expiry dates after opening-always check the packet.
Eye drops, once opened and used, risk being contaminated with the normal bacteria that live on your eyelids. Most bottles of eye drops contain preservatives which limit bacterial growth but not entirely. The older the bottle, the greater the chance that it has been contaminated, and the longer time the bacteria has to grow. A good rule of thumb is to throw away any opened bottle of eye drops after 3 months. Never share eye dropsâeye infections can be spread this way. Never use someone else's prescription eye drops. Some people mistakenly think that all eye drops are alike, and they are notâsome treat dry eye, some treat bacterial or viral infections, and some treat inflammation or glaucoma or fluid in the eye.