Saflutan eye drops

How do I use it?

• Wash your hands before using the eye drops.
• Take a single-use vial from the strip in the pouch. Replace any remaining single-use vials back into the pouch and fold the edge to close.
• Hold the vial upright and ensure that the solution is at the bottom of the vial before twisting off the tab to open.
• Tilt your head back and pull the lower eyelid down.
• Hold the vial close to the eye and gently squeeze the vial to allow one drop of solution to fall into the space between the lower eyelid and the eyeball.
• Immediately after administering the eye drops close the eye and press on the tear duct (at the corner of the eye closest to your nose) for about one minute. This is to minimise the amount of medicine that may be absorbed into the bloodstream, which will increase the local effect in the eye and minimise any adverse effects elsewhere in the body.
• Wipe away any excess solution around the eyelid.
• Repeat this procedure in the other eye if your doctor has told you to use the drops in both eyes.
• The eye drops should be put into the affected eye(s) once a day. The medicine is most effective if the drops are applied in the evening.
• One single-use vial of Saflutan eye drops should contain enough solution to treat both eyes if required. Once you have applied the drops you should throw away the vial, even if some solution remains.
• Unopened pouches of Saflutan eye drops should be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8°C. Once a pouch containing ten individual vials has been opened it may be kept out of the fridge. Opened pouches of the eye drops must be discarded 28 days after opening. It may be helpful to write the date of opening on the pouch in the space provided.

Use with caution in

• Closed angle glaucoma.
• Glaucoma present from birth (congenital glaucoma).
• Glaucoma caused by the growth of new blood vessels over the iris (neovascular glaucoma).
• Glaucoma caused by accumulation of pigment particles in the drainage channels of the eye (pigmentary glaucoma).
• Glaucoma caused as a result of a disorder of part of the eyeball called the ciliary body (pseudoexfoliative glaucoma).
• Inflammatory conditions of the eye such as conjunctivitis.
• People with an artificial lens in the eye (pseudophakia).
• People with no lens in the eye (aphakia).
• People with risk factors for swelling of the back of the eye (cystoid macular oedema), such as a closed or blocked retinal vein or diabetes affecting the eyes (diabetic retinopathy).
• People with a history or risk of inflammation of the middle layer of the eyeball (uveitis) or the iris (iritis).
• Decreased liver function.
• Decreased kidney function.
• Severe or poorly controlled asthma.

Not to be used in

• This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as there is no information regarding its safety and efficacy in this age group.
• This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
• This medicine could be harmful to a developing baby. It should not be used during pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor.
• Women who could get pregnant should use an effective method of contraception to avoid getting pregnant while using these eye drops. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk after being applied into the eye. The manufacturer states that it is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Very common 

• Red eye(s) (hyperaemia).

Common 

• Eye pain, itching, irritation or discomfort.
• Sensation of something in the eye(s).
• Dry or watery eye(s).
• Darkening, thickening and lengthening of the eyelashes.
• Swelling, redness or itching of the eyelid(s).
• Darkening of the eyelid(s) or skin around the eye(s).
• Change in colour of the iris.
• Discharge from the eye.
• Dislike of light (photophobia).
• Blurred vision.
• Reduced visual acuity.
• Headache.

Uncommon

• Inflammation of the front of the eye, called the cornea (punctate keratitis).
• Inflammation of the eyelid(s) (blepharitis).
• Tired eyes.
• Inflammation of the membrane covering the eyeball (conjunctivitis).
• Abnormal sensation in the eye.
• Inflammation inside the eyeball.
• Unusual hair growth on the eyelids.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

• You should always tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already using, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any new medicines while using this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.
• The manufacturer does not anticipate that these eye drops will affect any other medicines.
• However, if you are using more than one type of eye drop you should administer them at least five minutes apart, to prevent the second drop washing away the first. Use eye gels or ointments last.

References:

https://www.mims.co.uk/drugs/eye/glaucoma/saflutan

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5115/pil

https://www.nps.org.au/medical-info/medicine-finder/saflutan-eye-drops

https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/saflutan-15-micrograms-ml-eye-drops-solution-in-single-dose-container-33661/

http://www.santen.eu/eu/products/glaucoma/Pages/saflutan.aspx

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/eye-care/a8776/saflutan-eye-drops-tafluprost/