Evidence supporting the use of: Silver nitrate
For the body system: Eyes

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Silver nitrate has a well-established scientific use in supporting the eyes, specifically in the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum—a severe eye infection in newborns typically caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This practice dates back to the 19th century, when Dr. Carl Credé introduced 1% silver nitrate drops as a prophylactic treatment for all newborns, drastically reducing rates of neonatal blindness caused by gonococcal infection. The scientific rationale is based on silver nitrate’s potent antimicrobial properties, which effectively kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria responsible for the infection.

While the use of silver nitrate for this purpose has declined in favor of antibiotics such as erythromycin (due to less irritation and broader coverage), the historical evidence supporting its effectiveness is robust and well-documented in medical literature. Silver nitrate is not used to "support" eye health in a general sense, but it is a validated medical intervention for a specific, sight-threatening infectious condition. Its use is endorsed by historical clinical outcomes and has played a critical role in public health. Current guidelines may recommend alternative agents, but the foundational evidence for silver nitrate’s efficacy in neonatal eye infection prevention is strong and universally recognized.

More about Silver nitrate
More about Eyes

Other body systems supported by Silver nitrate

Eyes
Skin

Products containing Silver nitrate

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.