Ziac (Bisoprolol / HCTZ)

Zirgan (ganciclovir ophthalmic gel 0.15%) is a prescription eye medicine used to treat a herpes infection of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. This infection can cause dendritic (branching) ulcers on the cornea. Zirgan helps stop the herpes virus from making more copies of itself, which helps the eye heal. It comes as a sterile, clear gel that is placed directly in the affected eye. It is approved for adults and children 2 years and older.

Directions

Zirgan is only for use in the eye.

Put 1 drop in the affected eye 5 times a day, about every 3 hours while awake, until the corneal ulcer heals.

After it heals, use 1 drop in the affected eye 3 times per day for 7 more days.

Tilt your head back, gently pull down your lower eyelid, and place 1 drop in the small pocket without touching the tube tip to your eye, eyelid, fingers, or any surface.

Close your eye gently for a moment, then recap the tube immediately.

Wash your hands before and after using Zirgan.

Keep all follow-up visits with your eye care provider so they can check how it heals.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in Zirgan is ganciclovir. The inactive ingredients may include carbomer homopolymer, water for injection, sodium hydroxide, and mannitol. The gel is preserved with benzalkonium chloride.

Cautions

Before using this medication, you may want to consult a healthcare provider about the following:

• Any existing health conditions
• Any allergies
• A list of all medications currently being taken

Do not swallow Zirgan or apply it to other parts of the body.

Do not wear contact lenses if you have any signs or symptoms of herpetic keratitis or while you are using Zirgan. Contact lenses can trap viruses and medication against the eye and worsen the infection.

Avoid touching the tip of the tube to your eye, eyelid, fingers, or any other surface. This can contaminate the gel and lead to a new eye infection. Recap the tube right after each use.

Tell your healthcare provider if eye pain develops or if redness, itching, or inflammation gets worse while using Zirgan. These can be signs of irritation, an allergic reaction, or a new infection.

Blurred vision can happen right after applying Zirgan. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision has improved.

Use during pregnancy should be guided by a healthcare provider. There is no human data on the use of topical ganciclovir during pregnancy, and animal studies with intravenous ganciclovir have shown harm to an unborn baby.

Caution should be used when Zirgan is given to nursing mothers. It is not known whether topical ganciclovir passes into human breast milk.

Animal data suggest that systemic (intravenous) ganciclovir at high doses may affect fertility in both males and females. Whether topical use in the eye causes enough absorption into the body to reduce fertility in humans is unknown.

Zirgan should not be used in children under 2 years of age.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications for Zirgan listed in the prescribing information.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Zirgan include:

• Temporary blurred vision after applying the gel
• Eye irritation and redness
• Punctate keratitis (small spots of corneal surface irritation)
• Burning, stinging, or a sensation of something in the eye
• Watery eyes

Stop using Zirgan and seek medical attention if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, severe rash, or hives.

Contact your eye care provider if redness, itching, vision, or inflammation gets worse, or if the corneal ulcer is not healing as expected.

Any signs of a possible new eye infection, such as discharge, increased pain, or sensitivity to light, should also be evaluated.

References

• Zirgan Highlights of Prescribing Information. Bridgewater, NJ: Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.; 2026.
• Zirgan Drug Label Information. Bridgewater, NJ: Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.; 2026.