Controversial preservation of eye drops: The toxicity of benzalkonium chloride
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Controversial preservation of eye drops : The toxicity of benzalkonium chloride. / Hedengran, Anne; Kolko, Miriam.
In: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin, Vol. 338, No. 1, 2023, p. 1311-1314.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Controversial preservation of eye drops
T2 - The toxicity of benzalkonium chloride
AU - Hedengran, Anne
AU - Kolko, Miriam
N1 - Funding Information: M.K. has received funding from Laboratoires Théa (France) for other studies. No competing interests in relation to this paper. No funding was received for the development of the current paper.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Eye drops are a major cornerstone in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, and adherence is crucial. Most eye drops are preserved with the surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BAK). Great controversy revolves around the use of BAK, as BAK has continuously been proven to be cytotoxic. In cell cultures, BAK-preserved eye drops cause increased cell death, and in patients, preservation with BAK causes more side effects and ocular surface damage. Side effects can negatively affect adherence and, with this, disease control. This is namely a problem in glaucoma patients. Glaucoma is irreversible, and a lack of disease control may lead to incurable blindness. The purposes of treating ophthalmic diseases are to secure good visual acuity, ocular comfort, and good quality of life for the patients. When administering, BAK-preserved eye drops ocular damage may be inflicted and these purposes are put at risk. Preservative-free and alternatively preserved eye drops are available, why there is no need for the use of BAK.
AB - Eye drops are a major cornerstone in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, and adherence is crucial. Most eye drops are preserved with the surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BAK). Great controversy revolves around the use of BAK, as BAK has continuously been proven to be cytotoxic. In cell cultures, BAK-preserved eye drops cause increased cell death, and in patients, preservation with BAK causes more side effects and ocular surface damage. Side effects can negatively affect adherence and, with this, disease control. This is namely a problem in glaucoma patients. Glaucoma is irreversible, and a lack of disease control may lead to incurable blindness. The purposes of treating ophthalmic diseases are to secure good visual acuity, ocular comfort, and good quality of life for the patients. When administering, BAK-preserved eye drops ocular damage may be inflicted and these purposes are put at risk. Preservative-free and alternatively preserved eye drops are available, why there is no need for the use of BAK.
U2 - 10.1097/FAD.0000000000000066
DO - 10.1097/FAD.0000000000000066
M3 - Review
AN - SCOPUS:85147307816
VL - 338
SP - 1311
EP - 1314
JO - Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin
JF - Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin
SN - 0044-6394
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 336122377