This site is intended for healthcare professionals
EMC Drug Feed
Drug information

Minims Fluorescein

OTC
Read time: 1 mins
Last updated: 28 Jul 2016

Summary of product characteristics


1. Name of the medicinal product

Minims Fluorescein Sodium 1%


2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

1% w/v solution of Fluorescein Sodium BP.


3. Pharmaceutical form

Single-use, sterile eye drops.


4.1. Therapeutic indications

As a diagnostic stain. Fluorescein does not stain a normal cornea but conjunctival abrasions are stained yellow or orange, corneal abrasions or ulcers are stained a bright green and foreign bodies are surrounded by a green ring. Fluorescein can be used in diagnostic examinations including Goldmann tonometry and in the fitting of hard contact lenses.


4.2. Posology and method of administration

Adults, Children and the Elderly

Instil dropwise into the eye. Sufficient solution should be applied to stain the damaged areas. Excess may be washed away with sterile saline solution.


4.3. Contraindications

Not to be used with soft contact lenses.


4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Special care should be taken to avoid microbial contamination. Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows well in fluorescein solutions, therefore, a single dose solution is preferred. Each Minims unit should be discarded after a single use.


4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.


4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Safety for use in pregnancy and lactation has not been established, therefore use only when considered essential by the physician.


4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

May cause transient blurring of vision on instillation. Warn patients not to drive or operate hazardous machinery until vision is clear.


4.8. Undesirable effects

ADRs are very rare(<1/10,000),including isolated reports.Symptoms of allergic-type reactions and anaphylaxis have been reported following topical ophthalmic administration of Fluorescein sodium and may manifest as:Eye disorders: allergic conjunctivitis, peri-orbital oedemaImmune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: urticaria, rash


4.9. Overdose

Overdose following the recommended use is unlikely.


5.1. Pharmacodynamic properties

Fluorescein acts as a diagnostic stain.


5.2. Pharmacokinetic properties

Fluorescein will resist penetration of a normal cornea and most excess solution will, therefore, be carried with the tear film away from the conjunctival sac. The majority will be lost through the naso-lacrimal ducts and absorbed via the gastro-intestinal tract from where it is converted rapidly to its glucuronide and excreted via the urine. If fluorescein crosses the cornea it will enter the Bowman's membrane, stroma and possibly the anterior chamber. Aqueous flow and diffusion into the blood in the anterior chamber finally removes fluorescein from the eye and it is excreted unchanged in the urine.


5.3. Preclinical safety data

There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of this SPC.


6.1. List of excipients

Purified Water


6.2. Incompatibilities

None known.


6.3. Shelf life

Unopened: 15 months.


6.4. Special precautions for storage

Store below 25°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light.


6.5. Nature and contents of container

A sealed conical shaped polypropylene container fitted with a twist and pull off cap. Each Minims unit contains approximately 0.5ml of solution. Each unit is overwrapped in a polypropylene/paper pouch. 20 units are packed into a suitable carton.


6.6. Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Each Minims unit should be discarded after use.


7. Marketing authorisation holder

Bausch & Lomb UK Limited

Bausch & Lomb House

106 London Road

Kingston-Upon-Thames

Surrey, UK

KT2 6TN


8. Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 03468/0073


9. Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

22/11/2001


10. Date of revision of the text

23/04/2015

4.1 Therapeutic indications

As a diagnostic stain. Fluorescein does not stain a normal cornea but conjunctival abrasions are stained yellow or orange, corneal abrasions or ulcers are stained a bright green and foreign bodies are surrounded by a green ring. Fluorescein can be used in diagnostic examinations including Goldmann tonometry and in the fitting of hard contact lenses.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Adults, Children and the Elderly

Instil dropwise into the eye. Sufficient solution should be applied to stain the damaged areas. Excess may be washed away with sterile saline solution.

4.3 Contraindications

Not to be used with soft contact lenses.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Special care should be taken to avoid microbial contamination. Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows well in fluorescein solutions, therefore, a single dose solution is preferred. Each Minims unit should be discarded after a single use.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Safety for use in pregnancy and lactation has not been established, therefore use only when considered essential by the physician.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

May cause transient blurring of vision on instillation. Warn patients not to drive or operate hazardous machinery until vision is clear.

4.8 Undesirable effects

ADRs are very rare(<1/10,000),including isolated reports.Symptoms of allergic-type reactions and anaphylaxis have been reported following topical ophthalmic administration of Fluorescein sodium and may manifest as:Eye disorders: allergic conjunctivitis, peri-orbital oedemaImmune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: urticaria, rash

Learning Zones

The Learning Zones are an educational resource for healthcare professionals that provide medical information on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and burden of disease, as well as diagnostic techniques and treatment regimens.

 

 

Disclaimer

The drug SPC information (indications, contra-indications, interactions, etc), has been developed in collaboration with eMC (www.medicines.org.uk/emc/). Medthority offers the whole library of SPC documents from eMC.

Medthority will not be held liable for explicit or implicit errors, or missing data.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions 

Drug Licencing

Drugs appearing in this section are approved by UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), & the European Medicines Agency (EMA).