Adherence to glaucoma medications could be improved, say researchers who surveyed patients at a Baltimore Veterans Affairs hospital. Of the 141 patients, 20% said they had missed or skipped doses in the previous week. Two-thirds of the patients said that they had at least one problem using their medication, and 17 patients said they had four or more problems, including eyedrops falling on the cheek, eyedrops leaking from the eyes, and hard-to-read print on the instructions, and difficulty paying for refills.

Read the rest of this entry »

The FDA has approved besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6% (Besivance, Bausch & Lomb), a topical eyedrop for patients with nonviral bacterial conjunctivitis.

Bacterial forms of conjunctivitis are common in childhood, but they can occur in people of any age. Symptoms can include reddened eyes, swelling, eyelids sticking together, itching, watering, and a sticky discharge from the eyes. The course usually lasts for 7 to 14 days.

Read the rest of this entry »