Formulary Chapter 11: Eye - Full Chapter
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Notes: |
Preservative Free Eye Drops Microbial contamination of multidose bottles of eye drops can cause eye infections that may lead to damage of the eye and in extreme cases loss of sight. To minimise the risk, multidose bottles of eye drops contain an antimicrobial preservative such as benzalkonium chloride. The preservatives used in eye drops are normally well tolerated, but they are not completely harmless. They can cause irritation and damage to the corneal epithelium. This risk is understood to be greater in patients with pre-existing damage to the ocular surface and where large quantities of preservative containing eye drops are applied repeatedly over a prolonged period (e.g. if applied more than 4 to 6 times daily for several weeks/ months). To avoid these problems the use of preservative-free eye drops is recommended in: Patients who have experienced hypersensitivity reactions or irritation due to preservatives in eye drops. Patients who have received corneal grafts. Patients with conditions where there is already damage to the ocular surface as a result of disease or trauma, such as dry eye, blepharitis, ocular burns etc. Treatment with preservative-free eye drops will usually be initiated by an ophthalmologist. |
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North of Tyne, Gateshead and North Cumbria - Ophthalmology Referral Guidelines |
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11.08.02 |
Ocular diagnostic and peri-operative preparations and photodynamic treatment |
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11.08.02 |
Ocular diagnostic preparations |
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11.08.02 |
Ocular peri-operative drugs |
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11.08.02 |
Subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation |
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Aflibercept (Eylea®)
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Formulary
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- 40mg/1ml & 114.3mg/1ml solution for injection
- Approved for wet age related macular degeneration in line with NICE.
- Approved for macular oedema – central retinal vein occlusion in line with NICE.
- Approved for diabetic macular oedema in line with NICE.
- Approved for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion in line with NICE.
- Approved as an option for treating visual impairment because of myopic choroidal neovascularisation in adults in line with NICE
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NICE TA 294 Aflibercept solution for injection for treating wet age‑related macular degeneration
NICE TA 305 Aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion
NICE TA 346 Aflibercept for treating diabetic macular oedema
NICE TA 409: Aflibercept for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion
NICE TA 486: Aflibercept for treating choroidal neovascularisation
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Brolucizumab (Beovu®)
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Formulary
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- 19.8mg/0.165mL solution for injection (pre-filled syringes)
- Approved for treating wet age-related macular degeneration in adults in line with NICE
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MHRA Drug Safety Update (Jan 2022): Brolucizumab (Beovu▼): risk of intraocular inflammation and retinal vascular occlusion increased with short dosing intervals
NICE TA672: Brolucizumab for treating wet age-related macular degeneration
NICE TA820: Brolucizumab for treating diabetic macular oedema
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Faricimab (Vabysmo® )
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Formulary
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- 120mg/1ml solution for injection
- Approved for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema in adults in line with NICE
- Approved for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration in line with NICE
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NICE TA799: Faricimab for treating diabetic macular oedema
NICE TA800: Faricimab for treating wet age-related macular degeneration
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Ranibizumab 10mg/1ml injection (Lucentis®)
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Formulary
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- Approved for wet age related macular degeneration in line with NICE.
- Approved for diabetic macular oedema in line with NICE.
- Approved for visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary
to retinal vein occlusion in line with NICE.
- Approved as a possible treatment for sight problems caused by choroidal neovascularisation in people who also have pathological myopia in line with NICE.
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NICE TA 274 Ranibizumab for treating diabetic macular oedema
NICE TA 155 Ranibizumab and pegaptanib for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration
NICE TA 283 Ranibizumab for treating visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion
NICE TA 298 Ranibizumab for treating choroidal neovascularisation associated with pathological myopia
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Verteporfin 15mg Injection (Visudyne®)
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Formulary
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Approved for photodynamic therapy in wet age-related macular degeneration in line NICE.
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NICE NG82: Age-related macular degeneration
NTAG Decision Summary June 2020: Verteporfin
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Bevacizumab 1.25mg/0.5ml intravitreal injection
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Unlicensed
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- NETAG approved for use in the management of macular oedema
secondary to retinal vein occlusion. This is considered a more cost effective treatment option in RVO compared with ranibizumab.
- NTAG approved for age related macular degeneration.
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11.08.02 |
Vitreomacular traction |
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11.08.02.04 |
Other products - Mainly for treating ocular injuries |
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11.08.02.04 |
Antifungals |
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11.08.02.04 |
Cytotoxics / wound healing modulators |
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11.08.02.04 |
Fibrinolytic drugs |
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11.08.02.04 |
Glues - ocular |
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11.08.02.04 |
Immunosuppressants |
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11.08.02.04 |
Treatment of burns |
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11.08.02.04 |
Visco-elastics |
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11.08.02.04 |
Other |
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Key |
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Cytotoxic Drug
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Controlled Drug
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High Cost Medicine
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NHS England |
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Homecare |
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CCG |
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Traffic Light Status Information
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Drugs for hospital use only. The responsibility for initiation and monitoring treatment should rest with an appropriate hospital clinician and the drug should be supplied through the hospital throughout the duration of treatment.
In some very exceptional circumstances (e.g. due to distance from the hospital, storage, supply or mobility/transport problems) it may be appropriate for the GP to be asked to prescribe a Red drug. This should be negotiated on an individual patient basis and should only be done with the GP’s prior informed agreement where the roles of the GP and hospital services are clearly defined and agreed. The GP should not feel under pressure to prescribe in these circumstances.
For all RED drugs automatically added to the formulary in response to a positive NICE TA: Prescribers need to ensure that local Trust new drug governance procedures and pharmacy processes are followed before any prescribing. |
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Drugs initiated by hospital specialist, but where continuing treatment by GPs may be appropriate under a shared care arrangement.
The specialist should send the GP a copy of the shared care agreement to sign. The GP should sign the shared care agreement, or indicate they do not want to be part of such an agreement, and return a copy back to the specialist. Shared care guidelines are available or are being developed for most of the drugs listed as Amber.
If no shared care guideline is available, the hospital specialist should provide the patient’s GP with sufficient information and support to allow treatment to be continued and managed safely in primary care. |
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Drugs normally recommended or initiated by a specialist (hospital or GP with an extended role https://www.rcgp.org.uk/gpwer), but can be safely maintained in primary care with very little or no monitoring required. In some cases there may be a further restriction for use outlined - these will be defined in each case. Provision of additional information, or an information leaflet, may be appropriate in some cases to facilitate continuing treatment by GPs. |
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Drugs where prescribing by GPs is appropriate. Can be initiated and prescribed in all care settings, and if appropriate, discontinued without recourse to secondary care. |
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NOT APPROVED: Drugs that have been considered by NTAG or the NENC ICB Medicines Subcommittee (or other approved body) and are not approved for prescribing within the North East and North Cumbria. |
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UNDER REVIEW: drugs whose current formulary status or RAG status is currently under review. |
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NOT REVIEWED: Drugs that haven not been reviewed yet. This usually means that an application is in progress. These drugs are not normally considered appropriate for prescribing in the North East and North Cumbria until such time that a decision is taken on their formulary status. |
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