Intracameral Use of Nepafenac: Safety and Efficacy Study

Intracameral Drug Delivery: A Review of Agents, Indications, and Outcomes

An intracameral (IC) injection directly delivers the drug into the anterior chamber of the eye. This targeted drug delivery technique overcomes the ocular barriers and offers a high therapeutic concentration of medication at the desired site and consequently better clinical outcomes. IC drug delivery is a safe and effective modality with many advantages over topical delivery. These include excellent bioavailability, reduced systemic risk, and minimal ocular toxicity. Agents delivered via IC injection have shown promising results against infection, inflammation, ocular hypertension, and neovascularization. Current literature shows that IC antibiotics, including cefuroxime, vancomycin, and moxifloxacin, are routinely used for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis. Other drugs available for IC use are steroids, anesthetics, mydriatics, miotics, antivascular endothelial growth factor, antiglaucoma, and alkylating agents. Introduction of sustained-release devices containing dexamethasone or Bimatoprost in anterior chamber via IC route has the potential in treating ocular inflammation and raised intraocular pressure. The complications such as hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis and toxic anterior segment syndrome have been documented with IC prophylaxis but are rare. In this review, we provide an overview of available IC drugs, their pharmacokinetics, the spectrum of activity, dosage and preparation, prophylactic and therapeutic usage, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles.

Subconjunctival 0.1% epinephrine versus placebo in maintenance of mydriasis during vitrectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Pupil dilation and mydriasis maintenance throughout vitreoretinal surgeries are important to allow satisfactory fundus visualization and reduce risk of complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of subconjunctival epinephrine 0.1% injection in mydriasis maintenance during vitrectomy.

Methods

Ninety-nine consecutive patients undergoing vitrectomy were enrolled. All subjects were preoperatively dilated with tropicamide 1%. Each patient was randomly allocated either in the epinephrine or placebo group. In epinephrine group, patients were submitted to a 0.2 cc subconjunctival injection of a 0.1% epinephrine solution just before first incisions. In placebo group, the same procedure was performed with 0.2 cc of saline 0.9%. Horizontal pupil diameter was measured with calipers before and in the end of the procedure.

Results

Patients in the epinephrine group showed a significantly larger mean pupil diameter in the end of the surgery compared to placebo. There was a significant increase of mean pupil diameter from the beginning to the end of the surgery in such patients. Blood pressure was significantly higher in the epinephrine group than in placebo group. No other adverse effects were noted.

Conclusion

Subconjunctival epinephrine is effective for maintaining and increasing pupil size during vitrectomy, compared to placebo. Caution should be taken regarding intraoperative blood pressure levels.

Trial registration

RBR; RBR-3qzhvg; Registered 8 May 2018—Retrospectively registered, http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-3qzhvg/.