Current Research in Ocular Antiinflammatory and Antiinfective Medications

Needs Assessment and Activity Description

Phase IV studies of approved drugs broaden and deepen our understanding of their actions and applications. Reported in scientific paper and poster sessions at major meetings, little of this work is disseminated to clinicians. Many of these studies, however, have data and conclusions that are highly relevant to day­to­day clinical decision making. The goal of this educational activity is to make clinically relevant findings available to clinicians as rapidly as possible.

This educational activity seeks to present recent findings with respect to topical ocular antibiotic and nonsteroidal anti­inflammatory drugs. These are presented in the form of structured summaries that provide purpose, experimental design, evidence obtained, and conclusions. An Introduction provides a context for evaluating the clinical significance of the studies presented and their applicability to clinical practice.

Target Audience:

This educational activity is intended for general ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists who specialize in cornea and external disease, and ophthalmology residents and fellows.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, readers will be able to:

• Discuss the efficacy of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treatment of cystoid macular edema.
• Relate recent findings with respect to the antibacterial activity of topical ocular fluoroquinolones.

Faculty: David A. Goldman, MD