Drop size of commercial glaucoma medications.

We tested 145 samples of 20 different topical medications for the treatment of glaucoma to determine the average drop size of each preparation. The average drop volumes of different preparations varied between a minimum of 25.1 microliter and a maximum of 56.4 microliter, with an average drop volume of 39.0 microliter. Our findings contradict the common assumption that commercial eyedrops contain a volume of 50 to 75 microliters.

[1]  M. Kass Non-compliance to ocular therapy , 1978 .

[2]  J. Robinson,et al.  Lacrimal and instilled fluid dynamics in rabbit eyes. , 1973, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences.

[3]  I. Leopold Ocular cholinesterase and cholinesterase inhibitors. , 1961, American journal of ophthalmology.

[4]  G. Petursson,et al.  Treatment of glaucoma using minidrops of clonidine. , 1984, Archives of ophthalmology.

[5]  Davidson Si Systemic effects of eye drops , 1974 .

[6]  T. F. Patton,et al.  Ocular bioavailability and systemic loss of topically applied ophthalmic drugs. , 1978, American journal of ophthalmology.

[7]  M. Kass,et al.  Patient administration of eyedrops: observation. Part II. , 1982, Annals of ophthalmology.

[8]  J. Robinson,et al.  Quantitative precorneal disposition of topically applied pilocarpine nitrate in rabbit eyes. , 1976, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences.

[9]  J W Shell,et al.  Pharmacokinetics of topically applied ophthalmic drugs. , 1982, Survey of ophthalmology.

[10]  R. Brown,et al.  Creating smaller eyedrops by reducing eyedropper tip dimensions. , 1985, American journal of ophthalmology.

[11]  J. Bonica,et al.  SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF EPINEPHRINE APPLIED TOPICALLY TO THE EYE , 1966 .

[12]  F. Fraunfelder,et al.  Ocular beta-blockers and systemic effects. , 1984, Archives of internal medicine.