[Benzalkonium chloride daily dose--an important criterion in glaucoma treatment]

Preservatives in eye drops, especially benzalkonium chloride (BAC), may act as cytotoxic; furthermore, it may cause the instability of the tear film, conjunctivitis, subconjunctival fibrosis, epithelium apoptosis and worsening the prognosis of possible surgical treatment. The patient's subjective symptoms may decrease his compliance. For better orientation in this issue, the authors calculated the daily BAC doses in eye drops used in the glaucoma treatment. Significant differences are caused by different size of the drop in specific medicament, different BAC concentrations in the volume unit of the package, and frequency of application. The daily BAC doses are in micrograms as follows: Beta-blockers: Timo-COMOD 0.0, Arutimol 2.6, Vistagan 2.8, Timolol POS 3.0, Arteoptic 3.7, Carteol 4.0, Betoptic S 4.8, Timoptol MSD 6.3, Betoptic 10.0. Alpha-mimetics: Alphagan and Luxfen 3.5, Aruclonine 7.1. Prostaglandin derivates, prostamides and docosanoides: Taflotan 0.0, Lumigan 1.4, Unilat 3.0, Travatan 3.9, Rescula 5.8, Xalatan 6.0, Latanoprost-ratiopharm, Xaloptic, Latanoprost Actavis, Latanoprost Arrow, Solusan, Glaucotens 6.0. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Azopt 4.8, Trusopt 5.4. Fixed combinations: Ganfort 1.4, Combigan 3.2, Duotrav 4.3, Cosopt 5.6, Xalacom 6.0.