Background There are many medicinal products that, although they have shown efficacy and safety in different ophthalmological indications, are not authorised or commercially available for ophthalmic administration.¹

Purpose To evaluate the elaborations of ophthalmological medicines which must be prepared in the pharmacy service.

Material and methods This was a retrospective study of ophthalmological preparations in a reference hospital from January 2016 to December 2017. The parameters measured were treatment, administration (eye drops or intraocular injections) and economic impact.

Data source: SAVAC computer system.

Results Over the studied period, 37 618 ophthalmological preparations were elaborated in our laboratory: 20 430 (2017) and 17 188 (2016).

The preparation of eye drops were 16 838 (2017) and 13 990 (2016). During 2017, we observed that autologous serum 20% supposed 8810 preparations, cyclosporine 0.05% (6,800), autologous serum 50% (313), vancomycin 5% (200) and ceftazidime 5% (150). The main increase was concentrated in autologous serum 20% eye drops and cyclosporine 0.05% eye drops (17% and 20%, respectively).

The preparation of intraocular injections were 3592 (2017) and 3128 (2016). During 2017, the five preparations with the highest number of preparations were: cefuroxime 1 mg/0.1 ml (1,630); aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 ml (1,193); vancomycin 1 mg/0.1 ml (481); ceftazidime 2 mg/0.1 ml (130); and bevacizumab 5 mg/0.2 ml (74). It can be observed that these five preparations were 96% of the total intraocular injections. The main increase was concentrated in the saving of aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 ml intraocular injections.

It has also been shown that bevacizumab 2.5% eye drops (€12,008,4/year) and intravitreal syringes of aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 ml (€244,920/year) account for 98% of the total expense (€260,920) in ophthalmology preparations.

Conclusion The ophthalmological preparations in a pharmacy hospital have increased by 19%. Autologous serum 20% and cyclosporine 0.05% were impacted of 92% eye drops, including the longest storage duration tested. They must be prepared in the pharmacy service according to quality criteria to ensure its effectiveness, stability and sterility,¹ and supposed a high economic impact (€260,816.76)

Reference and/or acknowledgements

1. Fuentes-Irigoyen R, Martin de Rosales Cabrera AM, Riestra AC, et al. Consenso SEO-SEFH sobre recomendaciones de utilizacion y elaboracion de preparaciones oftalmicas. Farm Hosp 2018;42:82–8.

Reference and/or acknowledgementsNo conflict of interest.