Ophthalmic anti-infectives

What are Ophthalmic anti-infectives?

Ophthalmic anti-infectives are anti-infectives contained in a product formulated especially to be instilled or applied in the eye or eyes. Ophthalmic anti-infectives include eyedrops, gels or ointments. Anti-infectives are drugs that can either kill an infectious agent or inhibit it from spreading. Anti-infectives include antibiotics and antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals.

Growing Antibiotic Resistance

Growing microbial resistance to current antibacterial agents and widening gaps in antibiotic coverage create a need for a more potent and genetically smart fluoroquinolone. When ciprofloxacin, the first ocular fluoroquinolone, became available for ophthalmic use roughly a decade and a half ago, there was tremendous excitement. This was our knockout punch in the fight to prevent ocular infection, especially after cataract and refractive surgery.

Product Evolution and Demands

Gone are the days in the 1950s and 1960s when there was a wide range of choices for antibiotic therapy. Eye care practitioners no longer use sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, polymyxin, or bacitracin to treat ophthalmic infections. The use of aminoglycosides (neomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin) is waning as better agents in the fluoroquinolone family become available.