Pharmacodynamic profile of mydriatic agents delivered by ocular piezo-ejection microdosing compared with conventional eyedropper

Pharmacodynamic profile of mydriatic agents delivered by ocular piezo-ejection microdosing compared with conventional eyedropper

Tsontcho Ianchulev, Arturo Chayet, Malik Kahook, Mark Packer, Louis Pasquale, and Robert N Weinreb

Therapeutic Delivery, Vol. 0, No. 0 

(doi: 10.4155/tde-2016-0061)

AIM: 

Eyedroppers deliver medication volumes exceeding conjunctival absorptive capacity, causing spillage and risking ocular/systemic complications. We evaluated piezoelectric microdosing. 

RESULTS/METHODOLOGY: 

Subjects (n = 102) received precision microdroplet delivery of phenylephrine (2.5%) and tropicamide (1.0%): 1 × 1.5 μl, 1 × 6 μl or 2 × 3 μl of each (randomized 1:1:1), into one eye. Contralateral eyes received eyedropper doses of both drugs. Outcomes were pupil dilation (0–60 min) and patient satisfaction. Six-microliter microdosing achieved comparable, and 2 × 3 μl met/exceeded dilation speed and magnitude versus eyedropper. Separately, participants preferred piezoelectric saline self-delivery to eyedroppers, reporting better head-positioning comfort, reduced tearing/overflow and increased likelihood of adhering to ocular medication regimens. 

CONCLUSION:

Piezoelectric microdosing achieves comparable effects as eyedroppers delivering 4–17-fold larger doses. Microdosing may enhance patient adherence to ocular medication regimens while minimizing side effects.