Pataday eye drops work best when applied correctly: one drop in each affected eye, with your head tilted back and the dropper held just above your eye without touching it. The drops come in three formulations, and which one you have determines whether you use them once or twice a day. Getting the technique right helps the medication absorb properly and start relieving itchy, watery allergy eyes within minutes.
Which Pataday Formulation You Have
Pataday is sold in three strengths, and the dosing schedule depends on which bottle you picked up. Pataday Twice Daily (the lowest concentration) is applied morning and evening, roughly 6 to 8 hours apart. Pataday Once Daily and Pataday Extra Strength (the highest concentration) are both used just once per day. All three are now available over the counter. Check your box if you’re unsure which version you have, because using the once-daily formula twice a day means you’re getting more medication than intended.
Step-by-Step Application
Start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This prevents bacteria or dirt from getting into your eye along with the drop. Then follow these steps:
- Tilt your head back. You can do this standing, sitting, or lying down, whatever feels steadiest.
- Pull down your lower eyelid. Use one finger to gently pull the lower lid away from your eye, creating a small pocket between your lid and eyeball.
- Hold the dropper above your eye. Position the tip close enough to aim accurately but far enough that it never touches your eye, eyelashes, or fingers. Contact with any surface can contaminate the solution.
- Squeeze one drop into the pocket. Look upward while you do this. One drop per eye is the full dose.
- Close your eye gently. Press lightly on the inner corner of your eye (near your nose) for about one to two minutes. This keeps the drop in your eye rather than draining down your tear duct into your throat.
- Wipe away any excess. If solution runs down your cheek, blot it with a clean tissue.
If you miss the pocket and the drop lands on your eyelid or cheek, it didn’t count. Go ahead and try again with another drop. Resist the urge to blink rapidly right after application, since that pushes the medication out before it can absorb.
How Quickly It Works
Pataday starts reducing eye itching fast. In clinical testing, the active ingredient provided significant itch relief within 3 to 7 minutes of allergen exposure after a dose, outperforming oral antihistamines at every time point measured. That quick onset is one of the main advantages of putting an antihistamine directly in your eye rather than swallowing a pill and waiting for it to circulate through your bloodstream.
A single dose remains effective for a full 24 hours with the once-daily and extra-strength formulations. At the 24-hour mark, the drops still performed significantly better than oral loratadine in head-to-head comparisons. This means you get consistent relief throughout your day without needing to reapply.
Contact Lens Wearers
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before putting in Pataday. Wait at least 10 minutes after applying the drops before reinserting your lenses. This gives the solution enough time to absorb and prevents the preservatives in the drops from being trapped between the lens and your eye, which can cause irritation. If your eyes are already red, skip the contacts entirely until the redness resolves.
Using Pataday With Other Eye Drops
Many people use Pataday alongside other eye medications, such as artificial tears for dryness or prescription drops for glaucoma. When you’re using more than one eye drop, space them at least 5 minutes apart. This prevents the second drop from washing out the first before it absorbs. If one of your other medications is an eye ointment rather than a liquid drop, always apply the ointment last. Ointments coat the surface of your eye and will block any drops applied on top of them.
Common Side Effects
Pataday is generally well tolerated, which is part of why it moved from prescription-only to over the counter. The most frequently reported side effects are mild: a brief stinging or burning sensation right after application, slight blurred vision for a minute or two, a bad taste in the back of your throat (from the drop draining through your tear duct), and mild headache. These typically fade quickly on their own.
Blurred vision right after application is normal but worth planning around. Avoid driving or doing anything that requires sharp vision until your eyes clear. If you notice increased redness, swelling, or pain that gets worse rather than better, that’s not a typical reaction and worth a call to your eye doctor.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Each Dose
Timing matters. If you know you’ll be exposed to pollen or pet dander at a specific time, apply your drop beforehand rather than waiting for symptoms to flare. Pataday works both as a treatment and a preventive, blocking histamine receptors in your eye before allergens trigger a reaction.
For the twice-daily version, try to keep your doses evenly spaced. Morning and evening works well for most people. If you forget a dose, apply it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Don’t double up to make up for a missed dose.
Store your bottle at room temperature and keep the cap tightly closed when you’re not using it. Avoid leaving it in a hot car or in direct sunlight. Once you’ve opened the bottle, pay attention to the expiration date on the packaging, as the preservative system becomes less reliable over time.
Children and Pataday
Pataday Once Daily and Extra Strength are approved for children ages 2 and older. The twice-daily formulation is approved for ages 3 and up. The dose is the same as for adults: one drop per affected eye. Younger children often struggle to hold still, so having them lie flat with their eyes closed and placing the drop in the inner corner of the eye can help. When they open their eyes, the drop rolls in naturally. This is sometimes easier than trying to get a toddler to look up while you aim a dropper at their eye.