Fluorometholone: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When your eyes are red, swollen, or burning from allergies, infections, or surgery, fluorometholone, a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat eye inflammation. Also known as FML, it’s one of the milder steroid eye drops doctors reach for when they need to calm down irritation without going too heavy. Unlike stronger steroids like prednisolone, fluorometholone is often chosen for long-term use because it’s less likely to raise eye pressure or cause cataracts—but that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

It works by blocking the body’s natural inflammation response right where it’s happening: in the eye. This makes it useful for conditions like allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis, or after eye surgery to help healing. But here’s the catch: steroids don’t fix the root cause. They just silence the symptoms. If you’re using fluorometholone for weeks without knowing why your eye is irritated, you could be masking something serious—like an infection that needs antibiotics instead.

People often mix up fluorometholone with other eye drops like loteprednol or prednisolone. While all are corticosteroids, fluorometholone sits in the middle: stronger than over-the-counter antihistamine drops, but weaker than high-dose steroids used in severe autoimmune eye disease. It’s also one of the few steroid eye drops that’s sometimes prescribed for kids, because of its relatively safer profile. But even then, doctors watch closely for signs of increased eye pressure, which can silently damage the optic nerve.

Side effects aren’t rare. Dryness, stinging, blurred vision—those happen right after you drop it in. But the real danger shows up later: glaucoma, cataracts, or even a fungal infection that grows unchecked because the steroid suppressed your eye’s natural defenses. That’s why you never use it longer than your doctor says, and never share it with someone else—even if their eyes look the same as yours.

There’s a reason you’ll find articles here about other steroids like Medrol and corticosteroid-induced ulcers. They’re all part of the same family: powerful tools that help, but only if used right. Fluorometholone isn’t a cure. It’s a pause button. And like any pause button, you need to know when to hit play again.

Below, you’ll find real patient-focused guides on steroid use, eye health, and how to spot when a treatment might be doing more harm than good. No fluff. Just what you need to ask your doctor—and what to watch for after you leave the office.