Abstract
Although the efficacy and safety of ophthalmic solutions are known to be related to their use, so far little has been published on the patients use of ophthalmic solutions. In an attempt to facilitate the counseling for the patients prescribed with ophthalmic solutions, a fact-finding study on the rational use of ophthalmic solutions was carried out on ophthalmic outpatients from February 1994 to May 1994. Questionnaires were made a consisting of 22 items concerning the rational use of ophthalmic solutions, including the number of instilled drops per eye for each treatment, the treatment after the instillation of drops, the administration order for ophthalmic solutions, the administration intervals of other ophthalmic solutions, and adverse reactions. Completed questionnaires were collected from 287 patients. The mean age of these patients was 54.4 years and their mean period for eye disease was 5 years. The ophthalmic solutions exhibiting such systemic actions as ophthalmic ±-lockers were used in 53% of the patients. The inappropriate use of ophthalmic solutions was reported in 47% of the patients regarding the number of instilled drops, in 48% regarding the treatment after the instillation of drops, in 65% related to the administration order of the ophthalmic solutions, and in 78% related to the administration intervals of the other ophthalmic solutions. The directions for the use of ophthalmic solutions were under stood by the physicians and pharmacists in 45% of the patients regarding the number of instilled drops, in 35% regarding the administration order of the ophthalmic solutions, in 64% regarding the administration intervals of the other ophthalmic solutions. Three percent of the patients experienced systemic adverse reactions after the administration of ophthalmic solutions.
Based on these results, in order to improve the clinical effectiveness and avoid any systemic adverse effects of ophthalmic solutions based on unsuitable use, it is thus important to provide the proper drug information and to educate patients on the correct administration techniques of ophthalmic solution.
