# My eyedrops got washed and dried

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 21, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539 "2003-02-21T15:40:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/1 "2003-02-21T15:40:21Z")

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I left my eyedrops in my pants pocket and through the washer and dryer they went. Are they still safe? Are they still effective? There did not appear to be any leakage into or out of the bottle. The active ingredient is Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride 0.05% and everything else is, like, salt water.

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/2 "2003-02-21T15:59:10Z")

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Were they OTC drops? If so, I’d spend the five bucks and get a new bottle. Why risk your eyes?

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/3 "2003-02-21T16:32:18Z")

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Because I’m cheap.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/4 "2003-02-21T16:45:18Z")

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Can you gaurantee that none of the soapy dirty water in the washer leaked into the bottle ? I can’t think of a simple way to test that. If it were just the dryer, I’d say go for it, but soap, possibly proteolytic enzymes, and eyeballs do not play well together.

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/5 "2003-02-21T17:12:28Z")

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OK, so I guess my real question is “does heat break down Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride and if so does it break down into something harmful?” Chemists?

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**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/6 "2003-02-21T17:32:24Z")

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Read the bottle…if it says "do not store above \*\* degrees, then don’t use it.

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/8 "2023-08-25T23:43:00Z")

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I suppose you’re on a computer or phone. Google the brand name, you can find the label.  
Unlike 21 years ago. It was tougher.

Or buy a new bottle of eye drops. For real.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-eyedrops-got-washed-and-dried/156539/9 "2023-08-26T01:37:13Z")

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The FDA has issued recalls for several brands of Eyedrops in 2023. There’s concern for potential bacterial contamination.

I wouldn’t risk potential contamination from a washing machine.

> **[More Eye Drops Have Just Been Recalled Due to Serious Health Risks](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a43399552/eye-drops-recall-2023-brands-full-list/)**
>
> Check here for the full list of recalled products and stop using them immediately.