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Abstract #45911 Published in IGR 13-2
Force requirements in topical medicine usethe squeezability factor
Connor AJ; Severn PSEye 2011; 25: 466-469
IntroductionPatient compliance is essential to ensure efficacious treatment. The ease of topical drop delivery is of paramount importance. At least 50% of patients report difficulty in self-administration of topical ocular medicine. The two most frequently reported causes of difficulty include aiming the bottle and squeezing the bottle.PurposeThe aims of this study were to identify (I) the force required to deliver a single drop from a bottle (the squeezability factor), (II) are some bottle designs easier to use than others? (III) Do compliance aids reduce the finger strength required to deliver an eye drop?MethodWe measured the force required to deliver a single drop from a variety of commonly used ophthalmic preparations. Force was slowly applied at the midpoint along the bottle until a drop fell from the tip. Compliance aids were also tested with this technique.ResultsWe report a wide variation in the force requirements needed to use topical medicines. Three of the four compliance aids tested increased force requirements but may have had other beneficial effects by altering the grip on the medicine bottle.ConclusionThis study highlights the large variability in force required to deliver a single drop using the ophthalmic preparations and compliance aids tested. We feel our results will be of interest and relevant to prescribing physicians and manufactures alike.
A. J. Connor. Department of Ophthalmology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, Marton Road, Middlesborough, Cleveland TS4 3BW, United Kingdom. Email: dralanconnor@hotmail.com
Classification:
11.16 Vehicles, delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, formulation (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
15 Miscellaneous
