What are some common types of prescription eye drops?

Some common prescription eye drops include antibiotic drops for treating eye infections, lubricating drops for dry eyes, corticosteroid drops for allergies and drops that relieve eye pressure in glaucoma patients, according to WebMD. These eye drops differ in important ways, so patients should only use them as prescribed.

Doctors commonly prescribe eye drops for conditions that are not treatable with over-the-counter eye drops. Using eye drops incorrectly can be unsafe and cause worse problems, so a patient should never use another person's prescription eye drops, says All About Vision. A doctor should determine what type of eye drop is appropriate and write a prescription if necessary.