SYSTEMIC ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF TOPICAL OPHTHALMIC AGENTS - IMPLICATIONS FOR OLDER PATIENTS

Topical ophthalmic medications are widely prescribed by growing number s of eye-care professionals. Increasingly, these agents are being pres cribed by optometrists and ophthalmic-trained nurses in addition to op hthalmologists and general practitioners, As the number and variety of topical agents on the market rises, and as the number of clinicians i nvolved in prescribing those agents increases, the risk of systemic ad verse effects will also increase, Thus, professionals involved in the care of these patients must be aware of the risks associated with thes e drugs in order to minimise the likelihood of complications, Moreover , inadequate training may result in the clinician failing to associate a topical medication with a systemic condition, allowing an adverse e ffect to pass unrecognised, It is therefore In the interest of the oph thalmic and pharmaceutical communities to improve awareness of the pot ential dangers intrinsic in the use of topical eye medications, It is the elderly population who an at greatest risk of experiencing systemi c adverse effects of topical agents, Chronic ophthalmic diseases, and hence long term ophthalmic drop treatments, are more prevalent among o lder people, Such individuals are also likely to have other medical co nditions (e.g. cardiac, respiratory or neurological disease) that may be induced or exacerbated by topical ophthalmic agents. Moreover, poly pharmacy is common in elderly people, and this is associated with an i ncreased risk of drug interactions.