Adverse drug events leading to emergency department visits at an eye hospital: A brief report

Safa Alizadeh; Niayesh Mohebbi; Kheirollah Gholami; Mahmoud Jabbarvand

doi:10.1016/j.joco.2017.01.007

Adverse drug events leading to emergency department visits at an eye hospital: A brief report

J Curr Ophthalmol. 2017 Mar 3;29(2):139-141. doi: 10.1016/j.joco.2017.01.007. eCollection 2017 Jun.

Authors

Safa Alizadeh¹, Niayesh Mohebbi², Kheirollah Gholami³, Mahmoud Jabbarvand⁴

Affiliations

¹ Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate adverse drug events (ADEs) resulting in emergency department visits in an eye hospital.

Method: Emergency department visits at Farabi Eye Hospital were assessed for a 7-day period. The patients' eye disorders and drug history were evaluated to detect ADEs.

Results: Of 1631 emergency visits, 5 (0.3%, 95% CI: 0.13-0.71%) were drug related. Tetracaine eye drops accounted for 4 (80%, 95% CI: 38-96%) cases with corneal involvement. The other case was an intense conjunctival injection due to naphazoline eye drops.

Conclusion: ADEs should be considered in differential diagnosis of ocular emergency problems and preventive measure should be considered.

Keywords: Emergency department; Eye hospital; Ocular adverse drug reactions.