What Is Besivance? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

If your doctor just prescribed Besivance, you probably have questions. What exactly is it? How does it work? How do you use it correctly? This complete guide answers everything you need to know about Besivance (besifloxacin 0.6% ophthalmic suspension) in plain language.

What Is Besivance?

Besivance is a brand-name prescription antibiotic eye drop manufactured by Bausch + Lomb. Its active ingredient is besifloxacin, a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic developed specifically for ophthalmic (eye) use. It was approved by the FDA on May 28, 2009, and is currently the only fluoroquinolone antibiotic that was designed solely for eye infections — it has no oral or IV counterpart.

Besivance is formulated as a 0.6% suspension using DuraSite — a mucoadhesive polymer delivery system that helps the medication stay on the eye's surface for up to 12 hours per dose.

What Is Besivance Used For?

Besivance has one FDA-approved indication: the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (commonly called "pink eye") in adults and children aged 1 year and older. Bacterial conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva — the transparent membrane covering the white part of the eye — caused by specific bacteria.

Besivance is effective against a broad range of bacterial species, including:

Haemophilus influenzae

Staphylococcus aureus (including some resistant strains)

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Moraxella catarrhalis and Moraxella lacunata

Important: Besivance will not treat conjunctivitis caused by viruses, fungi, or other non-bacterial organisms. If your pink eye is viral, antibiotic eye drops are not effective.

Standard Dosage and How to Use Besivance

The FDA-approved dosage is:

Dose: 1 drop in the affected eye(s)

Frequency: 3 times daily, 4 to 12 hours apart

Duration: 7 days

How to use Besivance correctly:

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the bottle.

With the cap on, invert the closed bottle and shake once gently.

While still holding the bottle upside down, remove the cap.

Tilt your head back, look up, and gently pull your lower eyelid down.

Squeeze the bottle gently to place one drop in the pocket formed by the lower eyelid.

Close your eye and press a finger gently on the inner corner for about 1 minute to prevent the medication from draining.

Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye, hands, or any surface to prevent contamination.

Who Can Use Besivance?

Besivance is approved for adults and children aged 1 year and older. Safety and effectiveness in infants under 1 year of age have not been established. There are no dose adjustments needed for elderly patients — no differences in safety or efficacy have been observed in geriatric vs. younger adults.

Storage and Handling

Store Besivance at room temperature: 59°F–77°F (15°C–25°C). Protect from light. Do not freeze or refrigerate. Keep out of reach of children. Properly discard expired medication according to local disposal guidelines.

Cost and Availability

Besivance is available only as a brand-name medication — there is no FDA-approved generic. A 5 mL bottle (a full 7-day treatment course) costs $230–$350 at retail. With the Bausch + Lomb Access Program, commercially insured patients can pay as little as $25. GoodRx and SingleCare coupons can reduce the price to $133–$226 even without insurance.

The Bottom Line

Besivance is an effective, FDA-approved antibiotic eye drop for bacterial conjunctivitis. It's easy to use, well-tolerated, and works within a 7-day course. To learn more about how besifloxacin kills bacteria, check out our post on how Besivance works. If you're having trouble filling your prescription, medfinder can call pharmacies near you to find out who has it in stock.