In-Office Compounding Of Cyclopentolate Ointment: A Contamination Trial.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if an in-office preparation of cyclopentolate ointment will remain contaminate free over a set period of time. It is already widely accepted that drops sting and often disrupt the exam and patient cooperation, especially in kids. Alternative delivery mechanisms such as spray bottles have previously been suggested and investigated, (Kim, Bartlett). Ointments have been reported to cause less irritation and require less of the drug for the same ocular effect (Cable). Ointments have the same systemic absorption as drops; therefore the side effects of the drug used will be the same (Fiscella, Scruggs). In-office preparations of ointment could be prepared at a reduced cost compared to commercially available or custom ointment preparations from a pharmacy.
This experiment investigates the feasibility of emulsifying a mixture of cyclopentolate solution with bland ophthalmic ointment creating a cyclopentolate ointment. The results of our experiment showed that the process of in-office preparation of cyclopentolate ointment does not appear to introduce microorganisms into the ointment during the eight week study period. Indicating a potential shelf life of at least eight weeks for this ointment. In-office preparation of a cyclopentolate ointment from cyclopentolate solution and bland ointment is postulated to be effective, convenient, inexpensive and, as we have shown, will not pose additional risk of bacterial infection compared to commercially available cyclopentolate solution or bland ointment. This ointment mixture may be a good alternative for those practitioners looking for a better way to instill cyclopentolate.