Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Cutaneous and conjunctival antisepsis prior to ocular surgery

Contraindications

Preterm neonate gestational age under 32 weeks

Precautions and Warnings

Advise patient blurred vision may affect ability to drive/operate machinery
In combined therapy, administer eye products at least five minutes apart
Discolours soft contact lenses

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Povidone - iodine eye drops are considered safe for use during pregnancy.

No effects on pregnancy are anticipated. Systemic exposure to iodine is negligible.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14-17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Povidone - iodine eye drops are considered safe for use in breastfeeding.

No effects on the breastfed child are anticipated. Systemic exposure of the breastfeeding woman to iodine is negligible.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Blurred vision
Conjunctival discolouration
Conjunctival hyperaemia
Hypersensitivity reactions
Hypothyroidism (children)
Mucosal toxicity
Stains skin brown
Superficial punctate keratitis
Tissue damage

Presentation

Eye drops containing iodinated povidone

Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Cutaneous and conjunctival antisepsis prior to ocular surgery

Dosage

Clean the area around the eyes with a sterile cotton swab.

To reduce systemic absorption compress the lacrimal sac during administration and for one minute afterwards.

After two minutes contact with the conjunctival surface, rinse the product thoroughly with sterile saline 0.9% solution until the colour of the iodine solution disappears.

Adults

Elderly

Children

Neonates

Contraindications

Preterm neonate gestational age under 32 weeks

Precautions and Warnings

Advise patient blurred vision may affect ability to drive/operate machinery
In combined therapy, administer eye products at least five minutes apart
Discolours soft contact lenses

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Povidone - iodine eye drops are considered safe for use during pregnancy.

No effects on pregnancy are anticipated. Systemic exposure to iodine is negligible.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14-17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Povidone - iodine eye drops are considered safe for use in breastfeeding.

No effects on the breastfed child are anticipated. Systemic exposure of the breastfeeding woman to iodine is negligible.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Blurred vision
Conjunctival discolouration
Conjunctival hyperaemia
Hypersensitivity reactions
Hypothyroidism (children)
Mucosal toxicity
Stains skin brown
Superficial punctate keratitis
Tissue damage

Overdosage

It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.

The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111

Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Further Information

Last Full Review Date: June 2013

Reference Sources

Summary of Product Characteristics: Minims Povidone Iodine 5% w/v eye drops, solution. Bausch and Lomb U.K Ltd. Revised October 2012.