Website provides pharmaceutical resource for eye care professionals

Here, the author answers questions about a service, based on firsthand experience with it.

Please describe EyeMedsNow: What is it? What makes it unique?

EyeMedsNow is a self-funded online repository of pharmaceutical information relevant to optometry and ophthalmology. It provides, for free, detailed information about prescription and OTC topical and oral drugs, including dosage, mechanism of action, contraindications, side effects and cost, among other characteristics. All this information is presented in an organized, accessible manner.

Who benefits from utilizing EyeMedsNow?

EyeMedsNow benefits clinicians of all levels: Optometry students and residents will find it an effective learning tool, as they master the basics of prescribing medication during the management of ocular disease. More experienced clinicians can use the website to learn about new medications and to look up information about medications that they do not commonly prescribe.

What results can an O.D. expect?

When visiting the website, O.D.s can expect a clean, easy-to-navigate interface. The drugs can be sorted and searched in several different ways, including by drug classifications, conditions and routes of administration. Once the O.D. finds their drug of interest, they’ll locate the accurate and updated information.

Why should EyeMedsNow be at the top of an O.D.’s source list?

Textbooks are detailed, but are difficult to store, handle and search. Websites are easy to access but often lack detailed drug information. EyeMedsNow combines some of the detail of traditional texts with the accessibility and searchability of a website.

Have you found EyeMedsNow responsive to updating new or newly approved therapies? What kind of update time have you noticed, if any?

I trust that EyeMedsNow has the most current information about ophthalmic drugs. As an optometrist who manages glaucoma and teaches glaucoma to students, I am particularly interested in ocular hypotensive medications. In the past few years, several new glaucoma drugs have hit the market.

From EyeMedsNow: To keep our site up-to-date, our optometric editor, who is an associate dean of clinical services, informs us when new drugs are introduced and when changes are made to the package inserts for existing drugs. Also, our pharmacist, who is a Pharm D, has set up alerts on DailyMed, an NIH and National Library of Medicine directory, to notify her with updated information.

The website recently provided a dosing calculator. Why this is useful?

Pediatric specialists might find it especially convenient to look up a drug on EyeMedsNow and not have to search another online dosing calculator to calculate the appropriate dosage for children. This functionality ensures our youngest patients receive an effective, but safe dose of medication.

Anything to add?

Each doctor at EyeMedsNow is an outstanding clinician and educator. I trust the information because I trust the people who put their names on the website. It is reassuring to know that optometry’s and ophthalmology’s best are using their talents to help their clinicians provide outstanding care. OM

DR. YUHAS is an assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. He reports no affiliations to EyeMedsNow.