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

Loteprednol Etabonate is a prescription steroid eye drop used to treat inflammation in the eye. You might know it better by its brand names: Lotemax, Alrex, Eysuvis, or Inveltys. It's one of the most widely prescribed ophthalmic corticosteroids in the United States, particularly after eye surgery and during allergy season.

What Is Loteprednol Etabonate?

Loteprednol Etabonate is a corticosteroid — a synthetic steroid — that was specifically designed for use in the eye. It belongs to a class of medications called ophthalmic steroids, or eye steroids. It was FDA-approved in 1998 and is manufactured primarily by Bausch + Lomb under the Lotemax brand.

What makes Loteprednol Etabonate different from older steroid eye drops is its "soft drug" design. It's engineered to break down rapidly into inactive compounds after it does its job in the eye. This means it has a lower risk of raising eye pressure (intraocular pressure) and essentially no systemic (whole-body) side effects at normal ophthalmic doses — your blood level of the drug is virtually undetectable after using the drops.

What Is Loteprednol Etabonate Used For?

Loteprednol Etabonate is FDA-approved for several specific conditions depending on the formulation:

Post-operative eye inflammation and pain: Used after cataract surgery and other eye procedures to reduce swelling, pain, and redness during healing. This is the most common use.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: Alrex (0.2% suspension) is approved for temporary relief of seasonal eye allergy symptoms like itching and redness.

Dry eye disease: Eysuvis (0.25% suspension) is specifically approved for short-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

Other ocular inflammatory conditions: Doctors also use Loteprednol for uveitis, episcleritis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, and other inflammation of the eye surface and front of the eye.

Available Formulations and Brand Names

Loteprednol Etabonate is available in multiple formulations — this variety is part of why it can be confusing to patients:

Alrex 0.2% suspension — seasonal allergic conjunctivitis; generic available

Eysuvis 0.25% suspension — dry eye disease; no generic

Lotemax 0.5% suspension and gel — ocular inflammation; generic available

Lotemax SM 0.38% gel — post-surgical; no generic; submicron particle technology for improved penetration

Lotemax ointment 0.5% — post-surgical; applied as a ribbon rather than drops

Inveltys 1% suspension — post-surgical; highest concentration; twice-daily dosing; no generic

How to Use Loteprednol Etabonate Correctly

General instructions for eye drops (suspension and gel):

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after using the drops

Shake the suspension well before each use (for suspensions); for Lotemax gel, invert the closed bottle and shake once

Tilt your head back, gently pull down your lower eyelid to create a small pocket

Apply the prescribed number of drops into the pocket (usually 1–2 drops)

Close your eye and press lightly on the inner corner (nasolacrimal duct) for 1–2 minutes — this helps absorption and reduces systemic drainage

Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye, hands, or any surface — this prevents contamination

For the ointment: apply a small ribbon (about 1/2 inch) inside the lower eyelid pocket. Close the eye and let the ointment spread. Expect blurred vision for a few minutes — this is normal with ointment formulations.

Typical Dosing Schedules

Post-op (Lotemax 0.5%): 1–2 drops, 4 times daily, beginning the day after surgery for 2 weeks

Post-op (Lotemax SM 0.38%): 1 drop, 3 times daily, beginning day after surgery for 2 weeks

Post-op (Inveltys 1%): 1–2 drops, twice daily (BID), beginning day after surgery for 2 weeks

Allergic conjunctivitis (Alrex 0.2%): 1 drop, 4 times daily, during allergy season

Dry eye (Eysuvis 0.25%): 1 drop, 4 times daily, for up to 2 weeks

Important Safety Information

Do not use if you have an active eye infection (herpes simplex, viral, fungal, or bacterial that hasn't been properly diagnosed)

Remove soft contact lenses before use; wait 15 minutes before reinserting

If using for more than 10 days, your doctor should check your eye pressure

Not approved for use in children under 18 years old

For a full breakdown of side effects to watch for, see our guide on Loteprednol Etabonate side effects.