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Acular

Generic: Ketorolac Tromethamine

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
Allergan
NDC
0023-2181
RxCUI
860107
Route
OPHTHALMIC
ICD-10 indication
H10.10

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About Acular

What is this medication? Acular is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that is formulated as an ophthalmic solution to treat conditions affecting the eyes. It contains the active ingredient ketorolac tromethamine and works by reducing the production of certain chemicals in the body that cause inflammation and pain. Physicians most frequently prescribe these eye drops to provide temporary relief from the intense itching associated with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

In addition to managing allergy symptoms, this medication is often used to treat inflammation and pain following ophthalmic procedures such as cataract surgery. It is typically applied several times throughout the day to help the eye recover and to minimize discomfort during the healing process. Users should follow the specific directions provided by their healthcare provider to ensure the medication is used safely and effectively.

Copay & patient assistance

Detailed copay and financial assistance information is not publicly available for this medication at this time. Please consult your pharmacist or the manufacturer's official patient support program for more details.

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for Acular. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Sep 18, 2025

Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ACULAR is indicated for the temporary relief of ocular itching due to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. ACULAR is also indicated for the treatment of postoperative inflammation in patients who have undergone cataract extraction. ACULAR is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for: The temporary relief of ocular itching due to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. ( 1 ) The treatment of inflammation following cataract surgery. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For temporary relief of ocular itching due to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, apply one drop of ACULAR to the affected eye(s) four times a day. For the treatment of postoperative inflammation in patients who have undergone cataract extraction, apply one drop of ACULAR to the affected eye four times daily beginning 24 hours after cataract surgery and continuing through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period. ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage Temporary Relief o f Ocular Itching D ue t o Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis The recommended dosage of ACULAR is one drop four times a day to the affected eye(s) for the temporary relief of ocular itching due to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Treatment o f Postoperative Inflammation i n Patients Who Have Undergone Cataract Extraction Apply one drop of ACULAR to the affected eye four times daily beginning 24 hours after cataract surgery and continuing through the first 2 weeks of the postoperative period for the treatment of postoperative inflammation in patients who have undergone cataract extraction. 2.2 Use with Other Topical Ophthalmic Medications ACULAR has been safely administered in conjunction with other ophthalmic medications such as antibiotics, alpha-agonists, beta blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, cycloplegics, and mydriatics. Drops should be administered at least 5 minutes apart.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ACULAR solution is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formulation [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Hypersensitivity to any component of this product. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Delayed healing ( 5.1 ) Cross-sensitivity or hypersensitivity ( 5.2 ) Increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation ( 5.3 ) Corneal effects including keratitis ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Delayed Healing Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may slow or delay healing. Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. Concomitant use of topical NSAIDs and topical steroids may increase the potential for healing problems. 5.2 Cross-Sensitivity or Hypersensitivity There is the potential for cross-sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid, phenylacetic acid derivatives, and other NSAIDs. There have been reports of bronchospasm or exacerbation of asthma associated with the use of ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution in patients who have either a known hypersensitivity to aspirin/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or a past medical history of asthma. Therefore, caution should be used when treating individuals who have previously exhibited sensitivities to these drugs. 5.3 Increased Bleeding Time With some NSAIDs, there exists the potential for increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation. There have been reports that ocularly applied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause increased bleeding of ocular tissues (including hyphemas) in conjunction with ocular surgery. It is recommended that ACULAR be used with caution in patients with known bleeding tendencies or who are receiving other medications, which may prolong bleeding time. 5.4 Corneal Effects Use of topical NSAIDs may result in keratitis. In some susceptible patients, continued use of topical NSAIDs may result in epithelial breakdown, corneal thinning, corneal erosion, corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. These events may be sight threatening. Patients with evidence of corneal epithelial breakdown should immediately discontinue use of topical NSAIDs and should be closely monitored for corneal health. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs suggests that patients with complicated ocular surgeries, corneal denervation, corneal epithelial defects, diabetes mellitus, ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or repeat ocular surgeries within a short period of time may be at increased risk for corneal adverse events which may become sight threatening. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs also suggests that use more than 1 day prior to surgery or use beyond 14 days post-surgery may increase patient risk for the occurrence and severity of corneal adverse events. 5.5 Risk of Contamination Avoid allowing the tip of the bottle to contact the eye or surrounding structures because this could cause the tip to become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions. 5.6 Contact Lens Wear ACULAR should not be administered while wearing contact lenses.
Adverse reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Delayed Healing [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Cross-Sensitivity or Hypersensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Increased Bleeding Time [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Corneal Effects [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] The most frequent adverse reactions reported by up to 40% of patients participating in clinical trials have been transient stinging and burning on instillation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AbbVie at 1-800-678-1605 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The most frequent adverse reactions reported with the use of ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solutions have been transient stinging and burning on instillation. These reactions were reported by up to 40% of patients participating in clinical trials. Other adverse reactions occurring approximately 1% to 10% of the time during treatment with ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solutions included allergic reactions (including eye swelling, hyperemia, and pruritus), corneal edema, iritis, ocular inflammation, ocular irritation, ocular pain, superficial keratitis, and superficial ocular infections. Other adverse reactions reported rarely with the use of ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solutions included: corneal infiltrates, corneal ulcer, eye dryness, headaches, and visual disturbance (blurry vision). 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution 0.5% in clinical practice. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to the drug. Eye Disorders: corneal erosion, corneal perforation, corneal thinning, and epithelial breakdown. Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: bronchospasm or exacerbation of asthma.
Use in pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with ACULAR in pregnant women. No evidence of teratogenicity has been observed in rats or rabbits with ACULAR at clinically relevant doses. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Because of the known effects of prostaglandin-inhibiting drugs on the fetal cardiovascular system (closure of the ductus arteriosus), the use of ACULAR during late pregnancy should be avoided.

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

Medicare Part D coverage

How Acular appears across Medicare Part D plan formularies nationally. Source: CMS monthly Prescription Drug Plan file (2026-04-30).

Covered by plans

0%

2 of 5,509 plans

Most common tier

Tier 1

On 100% of covering formularies

Prior authorization required

0%

of covering formularies

TierFormularies on this tierShare
Tier 1 (preferred generic)1
100%

Step therapy: 0% of formularies

Quantity limits: 0% of formularies

Coverage breadth: 1 of 65 formularies

How to read this:plans on the same formulary share tier + PA rules. Your specific plan's copay depends on (a) the tier above, (b) your plan's cost-share for that tier, (c) whether you're in the initial coverage phase or past the 2026 $2,000 out-of-pocket cap. For your exact plan, check its Summary of Benefits or log in to your Medicare.gov account. Copay cards don't apply to Medicare (federal law).

Prior authorization & coverage

PayerPAStep therapyCopay tier

Medicare Part D

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.