Chloramphenicol For Opthalmic Use

Front 1

Characteristics of bacterial conjunctivitis

Back 1

1. sticky, mucopurulent discharge, may cause blurr vision and difficulty to open eyes upon waking
2. red/pink conjunctiva
3. burning/gritty sensation in the eye

Hint 1

1. usually start in one eyes and spread to the other (unilateral)
2. spontaneously remit within 5 days, symptoms may last up to 14 days if untreated
3. may be primary, or secondary to a viral infection or blepharitis

Front 2

characteristics of viral conjunctivitis

Back 2

1. initially unilateral with watery discharge
2. commonly associated with viral upper respiratorytract infections and preauricular lymph node enlargement

Hint 2

1. adenovirus is the major cause
2. a follicular conjunctivitis in young children may indicate aninfection with HSV

Front 3

viral conjunctivitis treatment

Back 3

Only symptomatic treatment is available
1. use of cold compresses several times a day
2. artificial tears, topical vasoconstrictors such asphenylephrine 0.12%
3. avoidance of bright light and systemicanalgesics

Front 4

bacterial conjunctivitis treatment

Back 4

1. propamidine 0.1% eye drops (BROLENE) 1 to 2 drops, 3 to 4 times daily for 5 to 7 days
2. chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops (CHLORSIG) 1 to 2 drops, every 2 hours for the first 24 hours, then decreasing to 6-hourly until discharge resolves, for up to 7 days. Chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment may be used at bedtime
3. framycetin 0.5% eye drops (OTODES - S4) 1 to 2 drops, every 1 to 2 hours for the first 24 hours, then decreasing to 8-hourly until discharge resolves, for up to 7 days.