Comprehensive medication guide to Eyemycin including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$20 copay on most commercial insurance plans; generic erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is typically Tier 1 or Tier 2 on most formularies. Medicare Part D copay usually $0–$10. Medicaid covers it in most states with minimal or no copay.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$15–$42 retail for a 3.5g tube of generic erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5%; as low as $12.99–$18 with GoodRx or SingleCare discount coupons at participating pharmacies.
Medfinder Findability Score
42/100
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Eyemycin is a brand name for erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5% — a prescription antibiotic applied directly to the eye. While the Eyemycin brand name has been discontinued in the United States, generic erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (manufactured by Bausch & Lomb) remains available and is clinically equivalent.
Erythromycin belongs to the macrolide class of antibiotics. As a sterile ophthalmic ointment (5 mg/g in a base of mineral oil and white petrolatum), it is FDA-approved for two distinct uses: treating superficial bacterial eye infections and preventing ophthalmia neonatorum in newborns.
Critically, erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is the only FDA-approved ointment currently commercially available in the U.S. for neonatal eye prophylaxis — making its ongoing shortage a major public health concern for hospitals and birthing centers.
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Erythromycin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit of bacterial cells, blocking the transpeptidation step in the protein synthesis chain elongation process. Without the ability to produce functional proteins, bacteria cannot grow or reproduce.
Because erythromycin specifically targets the 50S bacterial ribosomal subunit — structurally distinct from human 60S ribosomes — it stops bacterial protein synthesis without damaging human cells. It is primarily bacteriostatic (stops bacterial growth) but can be bactericidal at higher concentrations.
As a time-dependent antibiotic, it works best when maintained at consistent concentrations — which is why it's applied up to 6 times daily for treating active infections. The ointment base (mineral oil and white petrolatum) keeps the drug in contact with the eye tissues for an extended period.
0.5% (5 mg/g) — ophthalmic ointment
1 cm ribbon applied to the infected eye(s) up to 6 times daily for infection treatment; once per eye for neonatal prophylaxis at delivery
0.5% (5 mg/g) — ophthalmic ointment — 3.5g tube
Standard retail outpatient supply
0.5% (5 mg/g) — ophthalmic ointment — 1g unit-dose tube
Sold in cartons of 50; primarily for clinical/hospital use for neonatal prophylaxis
Eyemycin (erythromycin ophthalmic ointment) has a long and troubled supply history. Multiple manufacturers have exited the market since 2009, and as of 2026, Bausch & Lomb is the only remaining major commercial supplier in the United States. This single-source supply chain creates persistent fragility.
As recently as February 2026, the New York State Department of Health issued guidance to hospitals about the ongoing shortage. Availability varies widely by pharmacy, region, and day. Independent pharmacies may have stock when chain pharmacies don't, and compounding pharmacies can sometimes prepare it when retail stock is unavailable.
Finding erythromycin ophthalmic ointment near you can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. medfinder can call pharmacies near you to check which ones can fill your prescription — saving you hours of phone calls. Our findability score of 42/100 reflects the intermittent, regionally variable supply conditions in 2026.
Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is not a controlled substance and requires no special DEA registration to prescribe. Any licensed prescriber with standard prescribing authority can write for it. Providers who commonly prescribe it include:
Ophthalmologists (eye specialists)
Optometrists (in most U.S. states)
Pediatricians (frequently for children's eye infections and neonatal prophylaxis)
OB-GYNs and midwives (administer to newborns at delivery)
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
Emergency medicine physicians and urgent care providers
Telehealth prescribing is available for uncomplicated bacterial conjunctivitis. Platforms including RedBox Rx, Teladoc, MDLive, and PlushCare can evaluate symptoms and prescribe erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (or appropriate alternatives) during a virtual consultation, with the prescription sent directly to your pharmacy.
No. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (Eyemycin) is not a controlled substance and is not assigned a DEA schedule. It is a prescription-only medication, but prescribers do not need any special DEA registration or authority to prescribe it beyond their standard prescribing license.
Because it is not a controlled substance, erythromycin ophthalmic ointment can be prescribed via telehealth without the additional restrictions that apply to Schedule II–V medications. Pharmacies can fill it without any special tracking requirements. There are no refill restrictions beyond those specified by the prescriber.
Most people experience only mild, local side effects with erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. Common effects include:
Temporary blurred vision (expected after each application; resolves within 1–3 minutes)
Minor eye irritation or stinging immediately after application
Temporary redness of the eye or eyelid
Crusty or sticky eyelashes (from ointment accumulation)
Severe burning, stinging, or intense irritation that does not resolve
Signs of serious allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling
Worsening eye infection despite treatment (may indicate bacterial resistance or viral/fungal etiology)
Vision changes, severe eye pain, or photophobia (light sensitivity)
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Azithromycin (AzaSite) 1% ophthalmic solution
FDA/CDC-recommended alternative during erythromycin shortage; broader spectrum macrolide, once-daily dosing after day 2, drop formulation (no blurred vision). Note: AzaSite itself is in shortage as of 2026 and is significantly more expensive (~$200+ without insurance).
Tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic solution/ointment (Tobrex)
Aminoglycoside antibiotic with broad gram-negative coverage including Pseudomonas; available as drops or ointment; widely stocked; generic available for ~$10–$30 cash. Preferred for contact lens wearers or suspected gram-negative infections.
Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment
Similar gram-positive spectrum ointment; bactericidal; lower systemic resistance pressure than erythromycin. Note: ophthalmic bacitracin has also experienced shortage in 2025–2026.
Ciprofloxacin 0.3% / Moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic
Fluoroquinolone eye drops with very broad spectrum (gram-positive and gram-negative); reserved for moderate-to-severe infections or contact lens wearers. Generic ciprofloxacin ophthalmic is inexpensive and widely available.
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Other eye drops/ointments
minorApply eye drops first, wait 5 minutes, then apply ointment last. Ointment creates a barrier that can reduce absorption of drops applied afterward.
Oral erythromycin (systemic)
minorIf taking oral erythromycin concurrently, the CYP3A4 inhibition and drug interactions associated with oral erythromycin apply to the systemic dose. Topical ophthalmic use alone has minimal systemic absorption and does not cause these interactions.
Contact lenses
moderateDo not use erythromycin ophthalmic ointment with contact lenses. The ointment base (petrolatum/mineral oil) can permanently damage soft contact lenses. Remove lenses before application.
Eyemycin (erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5%) is an important but increasingly difficult-to-find antibiotic eye ointment. Its critical role in neonatal prophylaxis — as the only FDA-approved ointment for this use in the United States — means its ongoing shortage has consequences that extend beyond individual patients to public health.
For adult patients with bacterial eye infections, effective alternatives exist — tobramycin, fluoroquinolone drops, and bacitracin ointment are all appropriate options depending on the specific infection. Many ophthalmologists have already shifted to these alternatives due to growing erythromycin resistance, independent of the supply shortage.
If you're having trouble finding erythromycin ophthalmic ointment at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can check which pharmacies in your area have it in stock, saving you hours of phone calls. If erythromycin isn't available, work with your prescriber to identify the most appropriate alternative for your specific situation.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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