1 May 2026Drugs for external use and antiseptics
Aciclovir, eye ointment
Aciclovir eye ointment guidance for herpes keratitis and neonatal prevention when maternal genital herpes is present at childbirth.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Antiviral active against herpes virus.
Indications
- Treatment of herpes keratitis.
- Prevention of herpes keratitis in a neonate born to a mother suffering from genital herpes at the moment of childbirth.
Forms and strengths
3% ointment, tube.
Dose and duration
Treatment of herpes keratitis
- Child and adult: one application 5 times daily into the conjunctival sac of both eyes for 14 days or for 3 days after lesions have healed.
Prevention of herpes keratitis in neonate
- Immediately after birth: one single application of aciclovir into the conjunctival sac of both eyes after washing the eyes with sterile 0.9% sodium chloride.
- In neonates, wait 12 hours after application of aciclovir 3% then apply tetracycline eye ointment 1% to prevent gonococcal neonatal conjunctivitis.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Use within 30 days after first opening.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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