Dexamethasone 0.1% Eye prep
Indications
Dexamethasone 0.1% Eye prep is used for:
Allergic conjunctivitis, Ocular inflammation, Superficial punctate keratitis , Herpes zoster keratitis, Iritis , Cyclitis.
Adult Dose
Eye: 1 or 2 drops in conjunctival sac.
Severe or acute inflammation: Every 30 to 60 minutes as initial therapy, reducing the dosage when favourable response is observed to every two to four hours.
Further reduction may be made to one drop three or four times daily if sufficient to control inflammation.
Chronic inflammation: Every three to six hours, or as necessary.
Allergic inflammation: Every three to four hours until the desired response is obtained.
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity; Contraindicated in epithelial herpes simplex, vaccinia, varicella, and most other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva; tuberculosis of the eye; fungal disease of ocular structures; other diseases caused by micro-organisms, may be enhanced by the presence of the steroid. It is contraindicated in patients with perforated ear drum membrane.
Precautions
Prolonged use may result in ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma, with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity, and posterior subcapsular cataract formation.Elderly, children and adolescent; pregnancy and lactation.
Lactation: Excretion in milk unknown/use caution
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
There are no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women; should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the embryo or fetus
However, prolonged or repeated corticoid use during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of intra-uterine growth retardation
Lactation
Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects
Unknown whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Dexamethasone 0.1% Eye prep :
Cataract (4% )
Ocular hypertension, Open-angle glaucoma, optic nerve damage, and defects in visual acuity and field of vision (after prolonged use)
<1%
Transient ocular stinging, burning, local irritation, ocular discharge, ocular discomfort or pain, foreign body sensation, hyperemia, abnormal vision/blurring, pruritus, lid margin crusting, sticky sensation, increased fibrin, dry eye, conjunctival edema, corneal staining, keratitis, tearing, edema, irritation, corneal ulcer, browache, eyelid erythema, corneal edema, infiltrate, corneal erosion, mydriasis, ptosis, epithelial punctate keratitis, and possible corneal or scleral malacia, [posterior subcapsular cataracts] (prolonged use)
Mechanism of Action
Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid which decreases inflammation by inhibiting the migration of leukocytes and reversal of increased capillary permeability. It suppresses normal immune response.