With the arrival of the Ramadan, questions about whether eye drops break the fast have started to arise frequently. Those who use eye drops can continue using their medications with peace of mind during Ramadan…

The Turkish Ophthalmology Association announced that those who have undergone eye surgery or have chronic eye conditions, such as eye pressure, can continue using their eye drops throughout the month of Ramadan without worry, as eye drops do not break the fast. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Güngör, Secretary General of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association, stated that people who use eye drops can use their medications with ease during Ramadan. In his statement, Prof. Dr. Güngör reminded that the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs has issued a ruling on this matter, saying, “Since eye drops do not reach the digestive system, they do not break the fast. Eye pressure and dry eyes are chronic conditions. I can say that people who stop using their eye drops during Ramadan, thinking it will break their fast, put their eye health at risk. Especially for patients with eye pressure (glaucoma), stopping eye drops leads to vision loss, and it is impossible to reverse this vision loss once it occurs.”

The Presidency of Religious Affairs also stated regarding the use of eye drops by fasting individuals: “The amount of the eye drop applied to the eye is very small, about 50 microliters, which is 1/20th of 1 milliliter. Part of it is expelled when the eye blinks, and part of it is absorbed into the body through pores in the eye and the channels connecting the eye to the nasal cavity and mucosa. Furthermore, this process does not involve eating or drinking, so using eye drops does not break the fast.”

Does ear drops break the fast?
There is a canal between the ear and the throat, but the eardrum blocks this canal, preventing the medication from reaching the throat. Therefore, ear drops do not break the fast. Even if there is a hole in the eardrum, the medication will be absorbed in the ear, and either none or very little of the medication will reach the stomach. Furthermore, this process does not involve eating or drinking, so ear drops do not break the fast either.

March 2025