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 Formulary Chapter 11: Eye - Full Chapter
Notes:

This chapter of the formulary is under continual development, please let the team know if you have any comments about the contents: mlcsu.lscformulary@nhs.net

For more information about the formulary development process, please see: https://www.lancsmmg.nhs.uk/lancashire-and-south-cumbria-icb-formulary-development/

 Details...
11.03.01  Expand sub section  Antibacterials
Chloramphenicol
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First Choice
Green

Eye drops 0.5%

Eye drops 0.5% - preservative free (only for use in patients with a documented allergy to preservatives)

East Lancashire only - use as by ophthalmology when more than 5 days treatment required post op


Eye ointment 1%

Chloramphenicol eye drops 0.5% can be sold by a community pharmacy to the public  (for people over 2 years of age) for the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.

 
Gentamicin
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Second Choice
Green

Eye/ear drops 0.3%

 
 
Chloramphenicol (Minims®)
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Formulary
Red

Minims® 0.5% 

Follow local ophthalmology policies

 
Link  MHRA: Chloramphenicol eye drops containing borax or boric acid buffers: use in children younger than 2 years
 
Ciprofloxacin
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Formulary
Red

Eye drops 0.3%

*under review*

 
 
Fusidic Acid
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Formulary
Green
High Cost Medicine

Eye drops 1% in gel basis (liquefies on contact with eye)
 
Second line - Restricted use

 
 
Levofloxacin
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Formulary
Amber 0

eye drops 0.5%

preservative-free eye drops 0.5% - reserved for patients with a documented allergy to preservatives or for intensive use

 *under review*

 

 
 
Propamidine Isetionate (Brolene®)
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Formulary
Red

Eye drops 0.1%

Specialist use only for treatment of acanthamoeba keratitis

 
 
Cefuroxime
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
Red
Eye drops 5%

Unlicensed - consultant ophthalmologist only 
 
Chlorhexidine 0.02% eye drops
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Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
Red

Eye drops 0.02%

Unlicensed - Consultant ophthalmologist only. Morecambe bay only

* under review*

 
Link  MHRA: Medical Device Alert
 
Gentamicin Forte
View adult BNF View SPC online View childrens BNF
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
Red

Preservative free eye drops 1.5%

Unlicensed - consultant ophthalmologist only

 
 
Polihexanide
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Restricted Drug Restricted
Red

Eye drops 0.02%

Specialist use only for treatment of fusarium keratitis

Also known as polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)

 
 
 ....
 Non Formulary Items
  
Key
Restricted Drug Restricted Drug
Unlicensed Drug Unlicensed
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to adult BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to children's BNF
click to search medicines.org.uk
Link to SPCs
SMC
Scottish Medicines Consortium
Cytotoxic Drug
Cytotoxic Drug
CD
Controlled Drug
High Cost Medicine
High Cost Medicine
Cancer Drugs Fund
Cancer Drugs Fund
NHSE
NHS England
Homecare
Homecare
ICB
ICB
Green Low Carbon

Low carbon footprint

Amber Medium Carbon

Medium carbon footprint

Red High carbon footprint

High carbon footprint

Status Description

Green

Green: Appropriate for initiation and ongoing prescribing in both primary and secondary care. Generally, little or no routine drug monitoring is required.  

Green Restricted

Green (Restricted): Appropriate for initiation and ongoing prescribing in both primary and secondary care provided: Additional criteria specific to the medicine or device are met, or The medicine or device is used following the failure of other therapies as defined by the relevant LSCMMG pathway. Generally, little or no routine drug monitoring is required.   

Red

Red medicines: Medicine is supplied by the hospital for the duration of the treatment course. Primary care initiation or continuation of treatment is not recommended unless exceptional circumstances such as specialist GP. Red medicines are those where primary care prescribing is not recommended. These treatments should be initiated by specialists only and prescribing retained within secondary care. They require specialist knowledge, intensive monitoring, specific dose adjustments or further evaluation in use. If however, a primary care prescriber has particular specialist knowledge or experience of prescribing a particular drug for a particular patient it would not always be appropriate for them to expect to transfer that prescribing responsibility back to secondary care. There should be a specific reason and a specific risk agreement, protocol and service set up to support this. Primary care prescribers may prescribe RED medicines in exceptional circumstances to patients to ensure continuity of supply while arrangements are made to obtain ongoing supplies from secondary care.  

Amber 0

Amber level 0: Suitable for prescribing in primary care following recommendation or initiation by a specialist. Little or no specific monitoring required. Patient may need a regular review, but this would not exceed that required for other medicines routinely prescribed in primary care. Brief prescribing document or information sheet may be required. Primary care prescribers must be familiar with the drug to take on prescribing responsibility or must get the required information. When recommending or handing over care, specialists should ask primary care prescribers to take over prescribing responsibility, and should give enough information about the indication, dose, monitoring requirements, use outside product licence and any necessary dose adjustments to allow them to confidently prescribe.  

Amber 1

Amber level 1 (with shared care): Suitable for prescribing in primary care following recommendation or initiation by a specialist. Minimal monitoring required. Patient may need a regular review, but this would not exceed that required for other medicines routinely prescribed in primary care. Full prior agreement about patient’s on-going care must be reached under the shared care agreement. Primary care prescribers are advised not to take on prescribing of these medicines unless they have been adequately informed by letter of their responsibilities with regards monitoring, side effects and interactions and are happy to take on the prescribing responsibility. A copy of locally approved shared care guidelines should accompany this letter which outlines these responsibilities. Primary care prescribers should then tell secondary care of their intentions as soon as possible by letter so that arrangements can be made for the transfer of care.  

Amber 2

Amber level 2 (with shared care and enhanced service): Initiated by specialist and transferred to primary care following a successful initiation period. Significant monitoring required on an on-going basis. Full prior agreement about patient’s on-going care must be reached under the shared care agreement. Suitable for enhanced service. These medicines are considered suitable for GP prescribing following specialist initiation of therapy, as per shared care document which will be sent out with the request to prescribe, with on-going communication between the primary care prescriber and specialist. Amber Level 2 medicines require significant monitoring for which an enhanced service may be suitable. (Subject to local commissioning agreements).  

Do Not Prescribe

Do not prescribe: NOT recommended for use by the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Includes medicines that NICE has not recommended for use and terminated technology appraisals, unless there is a local need.  

Grey

Grey medicines: Medicines which have not yet been reviewed or are under the review process. GPs and specialists are recommended not to prescribe these drugs. This category includes drugs where funding has not yet been agreed.   

Multiple

Refer to local guidance.  

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