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

Maxitrol is one of the most commonly prescribed ophthalmic medications in the United States. If your doctor or eye specialist has prescribed it for you — or you're wondering whether it might be the right treatment for your eye condition — this guide gives you a complete, easy-to-understand overview of everything you need to know.

What Is Maxitrol?

Maxitrol is a brand-name prescription eye medication that contains three active ingredients:

Neomycin (3.5 mg/mL): An antibiotic that kills bacteria by stopping them from making proteins they need to grow and reproduce.

Polymyxin B (10,000 units/mL): A second antibiotic that kills bacteria by destroying their protective outer membrane.

Dexamethasone (0.1%): A corticosteroid (steroid) that reduces inflammation, pain, redness, and swelling in the eye.

This combination — two antibiotics plus a steroid — makes Maxitrol effective at treating conditions where both bacterial infection and inflammation are present at the same time. The brand-name Maxitrol is distributed by Alcon Laboratories and has been FDA-approved since October 1964. Generic versions (neomycin/polymyxin B/dexamethasone ophthalmic) are widely available.

What Is Maxitrol Used For?

Maxitrol is FDA-approved to treat steroid-responsive inflammatory eye conditions where bacterial infection is present or there's a risk of bacterial infection. Common uses include:

Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye): When the conjunctiva (white part of the eye) is infected with bacteria and inflamed.

Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelid margins, sometimes with bacterial involvement.

Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye).

Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea (middle layer of the eye) with bacterial infection risk.

Post-cataract surgery inflammation: Commonly used in post-operative protocols to prevent infection and reduce inflammation in the first week after surgery.

Eye injuries: Including those caused by chemicals, radiation, or physical trauma where infection risk is elevated.

Important: Maxitrol treats only bacterial infections. It will NOT work for viral eye infections (like the kind caused by the herpes simplex virus or adenoviruses) or fungal eye infections. Using it for viral or fungal infections can actually make them worse by suppressing your immune response.

Available Forms of Maxitrol

Ophthalmic suspension (eye drops): 5 mL bottle. The most common form. Must be shaken well before each use.

Ophthalmic ointment: 3.5 g tube. Thicker consistency that stays in the eye longer; often used at bedtime or alongside the drops during the day.

Maxitrol Dosage: How Much and How Often?

Always follow your prescriber's exact dosing instructions. General dosing guidelines are:

Eye drops (mild to moderate disease): 1–2 drops in the affected eye(s) up to 4–6 times daily.

Eye drops (severe disease): May be used as often as once per hour initially, then tapered as inflammation improves.

Ointment: A small ribbon (~0.5 inch) applied to the lower eyelid pocket 3–4 times daily, or at bedtime alongside daytime drops.

Initial prescriptions are limited to 20 mL (drops) or 8 g (ointment) and should not be refilled without a follow-up evaluation. If your symptoms haven't improved after 2 days, contact your prescriber — re-evaluation is necessary.

How to Use Maxitrol Eye Drops Correctly

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Shake the bottle well before each use.

Tilt your head back and gently pull down the lower eyelid to create a small pocket.

Squeeze 1–2 drops into the pocket. Do not touch the dropper tip to your eye or any surface.

Close your eye gently and apply light pressure to the inner corner (nasolacrimal duct) for 1–2 minutes. This reduces drainage of the medication into your nose and bloodstream.

Do not blink excessively. Wait at least 5 minutes before using other eye drops, if prescribed.

Who Should NOT Use Maxitrol?

People with fungal eye infections

People with viral eye infections (including herpes simplex keratitis, chickenpox, vaccinia)

People with tuberculosis of the eye or mycobacterial eye infections

People with known allergy to neomycin, polymyxin B, or dexamethasone

For a detailed look at side effects and safety, see our guide on Maxitrol side effects: what to expect and when to call your doctor.