Minims Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride 0.5% W/V Eye Drops
Bausch&Lomb
Minims® Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride 0.5%w/v Eye Drops, solution_
Read all this leaflet carefully before you start using your medicine. It contains a summary of the information available on your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Remember this medicine is for you. Do not give it to someone else.
In this leaflet:
1. What Minims® Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride eye drops is and what it is used for
2. Before you use your eye drops
3. How to use your eye drops
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store your eye drops
6. Further information
1. What Minims® Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride eye drops is and what it is used for
Minims® Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride contains a local anaesthetic. It is used to numb the surface of the eye temporarily.
Your doctor or eye specialist will use it:
■ to examine your eye without it being painful,
■ to measure the pressure inside your eye,
■ to perform minor operations such as the removal of stitches and foreign bodies,
■ for the fitting of contact lenses.
This medicine should be avoided in premature babies.
2. Before you use your eye drops
Do not use these drops
■ if you are allergic to the active substance (proxymetacaine) or any of the other ingredients (refer to the end of this leaflet).
■ if you are allergic to other similar types of local anaesthetic.
■ in premature babies.
Take special care
You should tell your doctor if:
■ you have a heart disease
■ you have an over active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
■ your eyes are red and inflamed
Minims should not be used in patients with known allergies.
Your eye drops are not intended for long term use. Frequent use of local anaesthetic in the eye over long periods of time may severely affect your eyesight.
Using other medicines
Staining solution containing fluorescein should be used with care when Minims® Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride is applied. Your doctor or eye specialist will be aware of this and will make sure that a long enough time interval is allowed between these medicines.
If you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding
Tell your doctor or eye specialist, he/she may decide to use these drops or to prescribe you an alternative.
Contact lenses
Your doctor will ask you to remove your contact lenses prior to the administration of the drops. There is no information on the effect of this product on contact lenses. Therefore do not wear contact lenses until the effects of the drops have completely worn off.
Driving and using machines
As with all eye drops, your vision may be blurred after putting the drops in. Wait until your vision is clear before driving or using machines.
3. How to use your drops
A doctor or eye specialist will use these eye drops to examine your eye.
The drops are in special single use "Minims" units, to examine both eyes if necessary. Once used, they should be thrown away.
Dosage
The amount of anaesthetic used will vary, depending on the procedure decided by your doctor or eye specialist:
■ To measure the pressure inside your eye or to remove foreign bodies: 1 or 2 drops just before the medical act.
■ To remove stitches: 1 or 2 drops are applied 2 to 3 minutes before operating.
■ To perform deep or prolonged anaesthesia: 1 drop applied every 5 to 10 minutes. This can be repeated up to 7 times.
Method of administration
The doctor or eye specialist will put the drops in your eye for you.
You may be asked to press on the inner corners of your eyes for 3 minutes. This will help stop the solution draining into your nose and throat. This is especially advisable in children, the elderly and population at risk.
Your eye will remain numb for about one hour, depending on how many drops you received. Avoid touching the eye until the anaesthetic has worn off.
A period of at least one minute should be allowed after administration of Minims Proxymetacaine hydrochloride 0.5% w/v, before subsequent administration of other topical agents.
4. Possible side effects
Allergic reactions can occasionally occur that affect the cornea (a transparent membrane covering the iris and pupil of the eye) and the iris. Your doctor or eye specialist will be able to tell if an allergic reaction occurs.
The following reactions have been reported very rarely and usually wear off quickly:
■ widening of the pupil (center of the iris)
■ transient loss of lens movement (inability to read)
■ irritation of the conjunctiva (a membrane which lines the inside of the eyelid)
In rare circumstances, a defect or inflammation of the cornea (whitening of the deep cornea, immunology-mediated disorder) and/or inflammation of the iris may occur.
If any of the side effects gets serious, please seek immediate medical attention. If you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. How to store your eye drops
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use the eye drops after the expiry date which is stated on the overwrap of each unit and on the carton after the letters "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator at 2-8°C. Do not freeze.
If necessary, the product may be stored at temperatures not exceeding 25°C for up to 1 month only and then thrown away. In that case, affix a label bearing the relevant expiry date to the carton label.
The drops are in special single use "Minims" units, to examine both eyes if necessary. Once used, they should be thrown away.
6. Further information
What do your eye drops contain
■ The active ingredient is Proxymetacaine Hydrochloride. Each unit contains approximately 0.5 ml eye drops solution of proxymetacaine hydrochloride 0.5% (2.5 mg).
■ The other ingredients are hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and purified water.
This medicine does not contain a preservative as it is a sterile single use unit.
Contents of the pack
Each carton contains 20 units.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Chauvin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
106 London Road - Kingston-upon-Thames - KT2 6TN - UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8781 2900 / Fax: +44 (0)20 8781 2901
Manufacturer:
Laboratoire Chauvin - Z.I.Ripotier - 07200 Aubenas - France
A copy of this Patient Information Leaflet is available in large print and audio format at www.xpil.medicines.org.uk
DATE OF PREPARATION: March 2009 Art.76559 GB255E01-05.07