PURPOSE The toxicity of antiglaucoma medications to ocular surface cells has been evaluated extensively; however, the toxicity to corneal endothelial cells (CECs) remains elusive. Our aim is to evaluate the toxicity of antiglaucoma medications to CECs using an in vitro toxicity assay. METHODS Primary cultures of human (H) CECs derived from eye bank specimens were established. Following exposu...

Benzalkonium chloride, a surface-active preservative commonly used in eyedrop preparations, has been shown to hasten the drying of the precorneal tear film. In the rabbit, 0.01 per cent benzalkonium (the concentration usually employed as a preservative) shortened the time required for the appearance of dry spots on the corneal surface by a factor of about four. In man, an approximately twofold ...

OBJECTIVE To measure the influence of topical steroids and the preservative potassium sorbate on the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human nasal mucosa in vitro. DESIGN In vitro study of cultured ciliated cells of human nasal mucosa. METHODS Human nasal mucosa was removed endoscopically and cultured for 10 days. Cell cultures with ciliated cells grown on an object slide were exposed to benz...

Timolol (generic name) is a frequently used medication for the control of glaucoma. Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) is a commonly used preservative in ophthalmic solutions with a broad range of antimicrobial activity; however, this nonspecificity can result in toxicity. Adverse effects attributed to BAK, including conjunctival inflammation and fibrosis, tear film instability, corneal cytotoxicity, ...

Preservative-treated wood is an economical, durable, and aesthetically pleasing building material; therefore, it is a natural choice for construction projects in our National Forests, National Parks, and other public lands. However, we need to ensure that the chemicals used in treated wood do not pose a threat to people or the environment. The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of t...

BACKGROUND Efficacy, tolerability and safety of the novel preservative-free fixed combination of tafluprost 0.0015%/timolol 0.5% (Taptiqom®) were investigated in an observational study in Germany. OBJECTIVE To assess efficacy, tolerability and safety of the preservative-free fixed combination of tafluprost 0.0015%/timolol 0.5% in a real-life setting. METHODS Intraocular pressure (IOP) was r...

PURPOSE To examine the expression pattern of the stress-related genes c-fos and c-jun, which encode the 2 major components of activator protein (AP)-1, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in rat corneal epithelium treated with topical antiglaucoma medications and benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preservative. METHODS Eighty-eight male Wistar rats were used. We instilled antiglaucoma eye drops (0.5% Timopto...

Cosmetics and topical products need not be sterile but may contain low levels of microbial load during use. This study was conducted to determine effectiveness of antimicrobial preservation during storage life of preparations and particularly the suitability of such preservative in terms of safety and broad spectrum activity. In this study, six formulations of both aqueous and oily cream were p...