Chloramphenicol belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics are used for infections caused by bacteria. Chloramphenicol eye ointment is for simple eye infections called “acute bacterial conjunctivitis”. This is sometimes known as “red eye” because the white part of the affected eye(s) will be red and/or the eyelid(s) will be red or swollen. There may also be a sticky discharge which can make the eye difficult to open in the morning, and the eye may feel ‘gritty’ or ‘irritated’. Chloramphenicol eye ointment is not suitable for treating eye infections that have spread to the deeper layers of the eye coverings or into the fluid within the eyeball. Antibiotic tablets or injections are needed to treat these deeper and more serious infections.