Pulmonary complications from ophthalmic preparations

Topical beta-adrenergic blocking agents are commonly used to treat glaucoma. Exacerbations of asthma and bronchospasm caused by topical beta-adrenergic ophthalmic preparations are well known. We describe a 67-year-old woman who had aspiration pneumonitis characterized by a nodular infiltrate in the right middle lobe of the lung and nocturnal coughing after beginning topical application of an ointment (Lacri-Lube) for treatment of xerophthalmia. Bronchial washing demonstrated lipid-laden pulmonary alveolar macrophages. After the use of Lacri-Lube was discontinued, her cough and the chest roentgenographic abnormality totally disappeared. We postulate that the topical ophthalmic preparation, which contains mineral oil and petrolatum, drained into the nasopharynx, trachea, and bronchial tree through the nasolacrimal duct and caused lipoid pneumonitis from aspiration of the oil contents. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pulmonary complications caused by Lacri-Lube. We briefly review the pulmonary complications, including pulmonary edema, apnea from paralysis of respiratory muscles, bronchospasm from non-beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, and electrolyte abnormalities, attributable to topically and systemically administered ophthalmic medications.