Last updated: February 2026 · Reviewed by Dr. Davinder Sidhu, OD · British Columbia, Canada
Bottom line: Ocunox (Candor OCUNOX®) is a preservative-free eye ointment made with vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) for nighttime dry eye relief. It is not an antibiotic. The most common side effects are temporary blurred vision after application and occasional mild stinging. Both are usually harmless and short-lived. Serious side effects are rare.
I need to address something before we go further. Some older articles online, including a previous version of this post, incorrectly describe Ocunox as containing polymyxin B sulfate, bacitracin zinc, and neomycin sulfate. That's wrong. Those are the active ingredients in antibiotic ointments like Polysporin or Neosporin ophthalmic. Ocunox doesn't contain any antibiotics at all. It's a completely different product with a completely different purpose.
Honestly, it drives me nuts when I see that kind of misinformation floating around. A patient reads that their nighttime eye ointment is "an antibiotic" and either panics about antibiotic resistance or, worse, assumes it'll treat an eye infection. It won't. So let's set the record straight.
What Is Ocunox, Really?
Candor OCUNOX® is a preservative-free eye ointment designed to be used at bedtime. Its key active ingredient is retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that supports the corneal surface and helps stabilize the tear film overnight.1
Here's what it does:
- Creates a protective lipid barrier over the eye surface while you sleep
- Delivers vitamin A directly to the corneal epithelium
- Reduces overnight tear evaporation
- Helps with morning dryness and that "sandpaper" feeling some patients describe when they wake up
Here's what it does not do:
- Treat bacterial infections
- Replace antibiotic ointments
- Work as a daytime artificial tear (it'll blur your vision, more on that below)
View Candor OCUNOX® on MyPear.ca →
What Are the Actual Side Effects of Ocunox?
Short answer: Most people tolerate it well. The side effects that do occur are usually mild and temporary.
Here's what I tell my patients to expect:
| Side Effect | How Common | Duration | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blurred vision | Very common (expected) | Minutes to hours; resolves by morning | Apply at bedtime only. This is normal. The ointment base is thick by design. |
| Mild stinging on application | Common | A few seconds to 1 to 2 minutes | Usually settles quickly. If it's severe or persistent, stop use and contact your optometrist. |
| Sticky or "gummy" eyelids in the morning | Common | Resolves after washing face / warm compress | A warm washcloth over closed eyes for 30 seconds clears it right up. |
| Mild eye irritation or redness | Uncommon | Variable | If it persists beyond the first few uses, discontinue and see your eye care provider. |
| Allergic reaction (itching, swelling, rash) | Rare | Variable | Stop use immediately. Seek medical attention if you notice lid swelling or hives. |
I should be upfront: the published clinical data specifically on Candor OCUNOX® side effect rates is limited compared to, say, a prescription drug with large Phase III trials. Much of what we know about vitamin A palmitate ointment tolerability comes from the broader ophthalmic literature on retinyl palmitate formulations and from clinical experience.2 I'd love to see more Canadian-specific post-market data on this. We're not quite there yet.
Is Blurred Vision After Ocunox Normal?
Yes. This is the single most common question I get about Ocunox, and the answer is straightforward: blurred vision after applying any eye ointment is completely expected.
Eye ointments (whether they contain vitamin A, an antibiotic, or just a plain lubricant) use a thick, oil-based vehicle. That's what makes them effective overnight. The ointment sits on the eye surface as a protective layer. But that same thickness means your vision will be blurry for a while after application.
This is exactly why Ocunox is labelled for nighttime use. You apply it right before sleep, the blurriness doesn't matter because your eyes are closed, and by morning the ointment has mostly absorbed or been cleared by your natural blinking.
One of my patients, a long-haul truck driver from the Interior, tried using it during the day on a long drive because his eyes were so dry. Not great. He said it was like "looking through Vaseline" for about 40 minutes. We had a good laugh about it, but it's a useful reminder: bedtime only.
Will Ocunox Sting When I Put It In?
Some patients notice a mild stinging or burning sensation for a few seconds after application. This is more common if your corneal surface is already compromised, which, if you have moderate-to-severe dry eye, it probably is.
Think of it this way: if you have tiny dry spots or micro-erosions on your cornea (common in dry eye disease), almost anything you put in your eye will sting briefly. It's not necessarily the Ocunox itself causing the problem. It's your eye's surface telling you it's irritated.
That said, if the stinging is intense, lasts more than a couple of minutes, or gets worse over several nights of use, stop and check in with your optometrist. There's a difference between "brief sting that settles" and "my eye is on fire." Trust your judgement on that one.
Can You Be Allergic to Ocunox?
It's possible, though uncommon. Because Ocunox is preservative-free, one of the most frequent causes of eye ointment allergies (preservative sensitivity) is already eliminated.3
However, some individuals can react to:
- Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) itself
- The ointment base ingredients (paraffin, wool fat/lanolin derivatives)
Lanolin sensitivity is worth mentioning specifically. Wool fat (lanolin) is used in many ophthalmic ointments as part of the base. Lanolin allergies aren't super common, but they do exist. Some estimates put contact allergy rates to lanolin at around 1.7% to 6.9% in dermatology patch-testing populations.4 If you know you react to lanolin-containing skin products, mention that to your optometrist before starting Ocunox.
Signs of an allergic reaction:
- Increasing redness or itching that gets worse with each use (not better)
- Eyelid swelling
- A rash around the eyes
- Hives (anywhere on the body, rare but worth knowing about)
If any of that happens, stop using the product and see your eye care provider.
How Does Ocunox Compare to Other Nighttime Eye Ointments?
Patients ask me this a lot, so here's a quick comparison:
| Feature | Candor OCUNOX® | Generic Lubricant Ointment (e.g., Lacri-Lube) | Antibiotic Ointment (e.g., Polysporin Eye) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Nighttime dry eye relief | Nighttime dry eye relief | Bacterial infection treatment |
| Active ingredient | Retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) | White petrolatum, mineral oil | Polymyxin B, bacitracin, etc. |
| Preservative-free | Yes | Varies (many contain preservatives) | Varies |
| Vitamin A delivery | Yes | No | No |
| Causes blurry vision | Yes (temporary) | Yes (temporary) | Yes (temporary) |
| Available OTC in Canada | Yes | Yes | Some (varies by province) |
| Treats infections | No | No | Yes |
For a deeper look at how to use Ocunox effectively, including dosage and nighttime routine tips, see our Complete Ocunox Guide.
The vitamin A component is what sets Ocunox apart from a plain petrolatum-based lubricant ointment. Retinyl palmitate has been studied for its role in supporting corneal epithelial health and goblet cell function, both of which matter in dry eye disease.5 It's not a dramatic difference for everyone, but for patients with compromised corneal surfaces, that added vitamin A can be meaningful.
Who Should NOT Use Ocunox?
Ocunox is generally well-tolerated, but there are a few situations where I'd hold off or choose something else:
- Known allergy to any ingredient, including lanolin/wool fat derivatives or vitamin A palmitate
- Active eye infection. Ocunox is NOT an antibiotic. If you have a bacterial eye infection, you need appropriate antimicrobial treatment, not a lubricant ointment.
- Contact lens wearers (at night). If you sleep in contact lenses for any reason, don't apply ointment over them. Remove lenses first. Better yet, talk to your optometrist about why you're sleeping in contacts.
- Immediately before driving or operating machinery. The blurred vision is real and immediate. Bedtime use only.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, the systemic absorption from a topical eye ointment is minimal, but it's always worth mentioning to your prescriber. Vitamin A in high systemic doses can be a concern in pregnancy. The amount in a pea-sized strip of eye ointment is not the same as taking oral vitamin A supplements, but I'd rather my patients ask than assume.6
How to Use Ocunox Properly (and Reduce Side Effects)
Proper technique actually makes a noticeable difference in how well you tolerate any eye ointment. Here's what I walk my patients through:
- Wash your hands. Obvious, but people skip it.
- Tilt your head back or lie down.
- Pull down your lower eyelid gently to create a small pocket.
- Apply a small strip (about 1 cm) of ointment into that pocket. You don't need a lot. More ointment doesn't mean more relief. It just means more gumminess in the morning.
- Close your eyes gently (don't squeeze) and roll your eyeballs around slowly to help distribute the ointment.
- Keep your eyes closed. Go to sleep.
- In the morning, use a warm, damp washcloth to clean any residue from your eyelids and lashes (like Hyabak or Hylo) or lenses.
Pro tip from the clinic: I had a patient, a retired teacher, lovely woman, who was squeezing out a full centimetre-and-a-half of ointment into each eye every night and then complaining that her vision was still blurry at 10 AM the next day. We cut the amount in half and the morning blur was gone by the time she'd finished breakfast. Less really is more with ointments.
When Should You Call Your Optometrist?
Most Ocunox side effects are self-limiting. But contact your eye care provider if you experience:
- Pain (not just mild stinging, actual pain)
- Vision changes that don't resolve by morning
- Increasing redness or discharge. Could indicate an infection, which Ocunox won't treat
- Allergic signs. Progressive swelling, itching, or rash around the eyes
- Any new or worsening symptoms after several days of use
Don't tough it out. Dry eye treatment is supposed to make you more comfortable, not less. If something doesn't feel right, it's worth a quick call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ocunox the same as Polysporin eye ointment?
No. Ocunox (Candor OCUNOX®) is a preservative-free vitamin A ointment for dry eye relief. Polysporin ophthalmic ointment contains antibiotics (polymyxin B, bacitracin) for treating bacterial eye infections. They're completely different products for completely different conditions. Don't substitute one for the other.
Can I use Ocunox during the day?
Technically you can, but you shouldn't unless your optometrist specifically advises it. The ointment base will blur your vision significantly for 20 to 60 minutes (sometimes longer). It's formulated for nighttime use. During the day, preservative-free artificial tears or gels are a better option.
Does Ocunox contain antibiotics?
No. Ocunox contains retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) in a preservative-free ointment base. It has zero antibiotic ingredients. Some outdated or incorrect online sources have confused Ocunox with antibiotic ointments. That information is wrong.
How long does the blurry vision last after applying Ocunox?
For most patients, the blur clears within 20 to 60 minutes. Since you're applying it at bedtime, it's typically resolved by the time you wake up. If you still have significant blur in the morning, you may be using too much ointment. Try a smaller strip.
Can I use Ocunox with my regular eye drops?
Yes, but timing matters. If you use artificial tears or medicated eye drops, apply those first. Wait at least 10 to 15 minutes, then apply the Ocunox ointment last, right before bed. The ointment can block absorption of drops applied after it.
Is Ocunox safe for long-term use?
There's no established time limit for using vitamin A-based eye ointments in the published literature, and many dry eye patients use them nightly for months or years. That said, you should have regular check-ins with your optometrist to make sure your dry eye management plan is still appropriate. Dry eye is a chronic condition, and what works now might need adjusting later.
Where can I buy Ocunox in Canada?
Candor OCUNOX® is available online through MyPear.ca and at select pharmacies across Canada. No prescription is required.
The Bottom Line on Ocunox Side Effects
Ocunox is a preservative-free, vitamin A-based eye ointment for nighttime dry eye relief. It's not an antibiotic. It's not for infections. The most common side effects (temporary blurred vision and mild stinging) are expected and manageable. Serious side effects are uncommon.
If you're dealing with dry, uncomfortable eyes that feel worst in the morning, Ocunox is worth discussing with your optometrist. It won't fix every dry eye problem, but for overnight protection, it's one of the better eye ointment options available in Canada right now..
