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What’s next for survey data?
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A grant has been provided to Oliver D. Schein, MD, MPH, at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University to synthesize the reported cases of adverse events felt to be associated with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A detailed case reporting form has been developed that, in conjunction with reviews of actual patient records (all patient names removed), will form the basis of a data set of these cases.
Surgeons who have not previously reported adverse events still could contact the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and submit their reports. Additionally, if ophthalmologists receive reports other than those reported in the original survey, he or she should notify the appropriate manufacturer or the Food and Drug Administration by means of Medwatch.
Dr. Schein told Ocular Surgery News that he intends to look at patterns of pathology, seek associations between clinical presentation and the NSAID used, and develop profiles of patients at risk.
Issues to study include:
- Are the reactions related to underlying systemic disease?
- Do reactions relate to surgical methods or incision types?
- Which NSAID was prescribed and which NSAID was dispensed?
Dr. Schein said that it is more important to do a complete study than to release results quickly.
“The ophthalmology public is aware there is a problem with the drugs and that one of them is off the market,” he said. “We would like to move along as quickly as possible, but there is no longer that sense of urgency. What we find may influence the development of new nonsteroidals.”