Your Prescription Eye Drops May Cause Systemic Effects

Credit: www.glaucoma.org

Ophthalmic medications are used for a number of conditions such as glaucoma, infection, allergy and inflammation, often on a chronic basis. Generally the drugs used in this manner have good safety profiles, but they do have the potential to cause significant adverse drug events, and can interact with other systemic medications.

Ophthalmic medications pass through the lacrimal sac and have access to the highly vascular nasal mucosa.

Because they avoid first-pass metabolism by the liver the pressure lowering side effect of a single drop of an ophthalmic medication is magnified 10 times when absorbed through the lacrimal sac.  

Here's what you can do to prevent systemic absorption from your eye drops

The systemic absorption of ophthalmic medication can be minimised using the “double DOT” technique (Don’t Open Eyes Technique and Digital Occlusion of the Tear duct). This involves closing the eyes and applying pressure with the finger over the lacrimal sac (outside corner of the eye) for 1-2 minutes. This can reduce systemic absorption by up to 70%, thus decreasing the likelihood of significant systemic absorption. 

Recommended Robbo, the pharmacist in the great Australian bush.

Health professionals can get more information on the systemic effects of ophthalmic medications from this bulletin by the Repatriation Hospital of South Australia, available via Robbo's bitethedust

Some examples of the ophthalmic medications that can cause systemic side effects

 

Topless Photo of Kate Middleton

Like so many of us DOM (dirty old men) Robert Kong tirelessly surfed the net for Kate's topless photo. He succeeded and now share his find with us. However, modesty compels us to crop the pix, sorry! Now, who is lying?

Robert also sent this joke :

One day an Irishman goes into a pharmacy shop, reaches into his pocket and takes out a small bottle and a teaspoon.

He pours some liquid onto the teaspoon and offers it to the chemist.

"Could you taste this for me, please?"

The chemist takes the teaspoon, puts it in his mouth, swills the liquid around and swallows it.

"Does that taste sweet to you?" says Paddy.

"No, not at all," says the chemist.

"Oh that's a relief," says Paddy. "The doctor told me to come here and get my urine tested for sugar."

Hey, that was a joke at the expense of pharmacists!

Ok la but let us share with you one on Catholics (and Lawyers) that we got from a non-believer (because of the risk of some 'decent' religious folks out there wanting to bomb the author, so we shall keep his identity secret):

On their way to get married, a young couple was involved in a fatal car accident...

The couple found themselves sitting outside the Pearly Gates waiting for St. Peter to process them into Heaven.

While waiting, they began to wonder: Could they possibly get married in Heaven?

When St. Peter arrived, they asked him, "Can we get married in heaven?"

St. Peter said, "I don't know. This is the first time anyone has asked. Let me go find out," and he left.

The couple sat and waited for an answer.....for a couple of months.

While they waited, they discussed the pros and cons. If they were allowed to get married in Heaven, SHOULD they get married, what with the eternal aspect of it all?

"What if it doesn't work? Are we stuck in Heaven together FOREVER?"

Another month passed. St. Peter finally returned, looking somewhat bedraggled.

"Yes," he informed the couple, "You CAN get married in Heaven."

"Great!" said the couple. "But we were just wondering: What if things don't work out? Can we get a divorce in Heaven?"

St. Peter, red-faced with anger, slammed his clipboard on the ground.

"What's wrong?" asked the frightened couple.

"OH, COME ON!!" St. Peter shouted. "It took me 3 months to find a priest up here! Do you have ANY idea how long it'll take to find a lawyer?"

AntiAging Compounds in Fruits and Vegetables

 Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found largely in the fruits, vegetables, cereals and beverages. Fruits like grapes, apple, pear, cherries and berries contains up to 200–300 mg polyphenols per 100 grams fresh weight. 

The products manufactured from these fruits, also contain polyphenols in significant amounts. Typically a glass of red wine or a cup of tea or coffee contains about 100 mg polyphenols. Cereals, dry legumes and chocolate also contribute to the polyphenolic intake.

Epidemiological studies and associated meta-analyses strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in plant polyphenols offer protection against development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases.

Reference:

Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2009 Nov-Dec; 2(5): 270–278.

Click HERE to read more about the biological effects of plant polyphenols in the context of relevance to human health.