Eyes, Ears, Derm
Why are medications for the eyes usually applied Topically?
What population of pts cannot take Latanoprost and why?
- Pregnant woman because low birth weight was found to be more common in Latanoprost-exposed babies
What population of pts should not take Timolol and why?
What class of Glaucoma drugs are most frequently prescribed?
- Prostaglandin Agonists
What is the main goal of all Glaucoma medications?
- lowering IOP (Intraocular pressure)
What do you have to consider when a pt has more than 1 eye medication ordered?
- Educate them about the order in which they should be given
- Wait 10 minutes in between drops when more than one medication is used
What activities should be avoided when you want to decrease intra-ocular pressure?
- Straining to defecate
- lifting heavy objects
- bending over
- excessive coughing or vomiting
What is tonometry and why is it important to glaucoma pts?
- Tonometry: measurement of Intraocular Pressure
- It is important for glaucoma pts because optometrists can measure the progression of glaucoma by used the CenterPoint of affected nerve, and determining the radius and diameter affected.
What are the significant Adverse Effects of Latanoprost?
- Eyelid edema
- Blurred Vision
- Dry eyes
Why do you put pressure on the inner canthus after instilling eye drops?
- To prevent the medication from entering the lacrimal duct and causing possible systemic reaction to the medication
- Women must agree to use 2 forms of birth control
- Pregnancy Category X
- Sun sensitivity
- Avoid all skin resurfacing procedures for 6 months
What are the Adverse effects of Timolol that makes it less frequently prescribed?
- Burning, stinging, irritation
- Blurred vision
- Dry eyes
What classes of drugs are used to tx ocular inflammation?
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
What drugs are used during an eye exam?
- Proparacaine
- Tetracaine
How do you instill ear drops in children under 3? How do you instill ear drops in people over 3 years of age?
- For children younger than 3: Gently pull the outer ear down and toward the back of the head
- For children older than 3 years:
- Gently pull the outer ear up and toward the back of the head
- Look for ear wax and remove if needed
- Shake the medication
- Drop mediation in center of canal
- Lie on side for 20 minutes
- Take as directed
Classes of drugs that are used to tx Glaucoma
- #1 Prostaglandin Agonists
- #2 Beta-adrenergic Blocker
- #3 Alpha Adrenergic
- Osmotic diuretics
- Cholinergic (miotics)
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
What safety measures are important for eye medications?
- Always wash your hands before handling your eye drops or touching your eyes
- Avoid touching eye with applicator
- Most eye drop solutions must be shaken to mix well
- After administration of drops, apply pressure to the inner cantus for at least 1 minute or as directed
- Apply ointments and gels to the conjunctival sac not directly on the eye
- Ointments can cause blurry vision so be safe until the drug is absorbed
- Educate that some eye medications darken the eye color permanently
What are the important steps for instilling eye medication and in what order should you take those steps?
- Remove contacts
- Look up to the ceiling
- Pull the lower lid down
- Place drop in the conjunctival sac
- Avoid contact of the dropper with eye, finger
- Release eyelid and close eyes
- Apply pressure to inner canthus for 3 minutes
- Wait 10 minutes before instilling a 2nd medication
What are two medications used to tx acne?
- Isotretinoin (Accutane)
- Clindamycin