A Clinical Cure For Conjunctivitis

Eye problems are frequently seen in urgent care centers, and one ailment can often appear to be another. Allergies? Intra-ocular inflammation? Viral infections? The symptoms can be similar.

“The most important task at the urgent care is to make the correct diagnosis,” said Mark Dorfman MD, FACS, FAAP, chief of surgery and chief of pediatric ophthalmology at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Dorfman is also past president of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.

A product that is helpful for a wide range of eye troubles is VIGAMOX®, a broad-spectrum antibiotic with a rapid rate of bacterial kill, according to Dorfman.

“It has become the mainstay in the treatment of corneal ulcers (from contact lens wear), providing broad antibiotic coverage following traumatic corneal abrasions, and it has become the standard of care in cataract and intra-ocular surgery, being used in both the pre- and post- operative period.”

Most importantly, it’s comfortable and well tolerated. VIGAMOX® is given three times a day for seven days. However, due to the potency of this antibiotic, Dorfman often has parents give it to their kids for only three or four days.

VIGAMOX® lists some light potential side effects, such as stinging and temporarily decreased vision, but Dorfman said that studies have shown VIGAMOX® to have the same influence as artificial tears.

“VIGAMOX® is formulated very close to the pH of natural tears—this pH is closer than the other flouroquinolones on the market,” he said. “The comfort of VIGAMOX® is a big reason for it to be well tolerated in pediatrics, thus increasing compliance.”

The product is gentle, yet strong, according to Dorfman.

“VIGAMOX® is so potent that there is complete eradication of the bacterial organism in as little as one day of treatment,” he said. “In general, we send children back to school the next day after treatment is started for bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis is very contagious, and outbreaks have been reported throughout the literature. By using VIGAMOX®, I feel comfortable that the infection will not be spread around the school.”

The conclusion? Less “pink eye,” less missed school, fewer crying kids. Now that’s combination sure to please moms and school nurses.

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines

Read Comments [1]