Table 1.
Common ophthalmic compounds and their primary preservative additive.⁎
| Drug class | Drug name | Primary preservative | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocular hypotensives | |||
| Miotics | Echothiophate | Chlorobutanol | 0.55% |
| Pilocarpine | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Pilocarpine gel | BAK | 0.008% | |
| Carbachol | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Beta blockers | Timolol maleate (PFU) | BAK | 0.01% |
| Timolol XE | Benzododecinium bromide | 0.012% | |
| Cartelol | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Betaxalol | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Levabunolol | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Metipranolol | BAK | 0.004% | |
| Apraclonidine (PFU) | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Brimonidine | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Alphagan | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Alphagan-P | Purite | 0.005% | |
| Brinzolamide | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Dorzolamide | BAK | 0.0075% | |
| Prostaglandin analogs | Latanoprost | BAK | 0.02% |
| Bimatoprost 0.01% | BAK | 0.02% | |
| Bimatoprost 0.03% | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Travoprost | BAK | 0.015% | |
| Travoprost Z | Sofzia | Ionic buffer system (Sofzia) | |
| Tafluprost (PFU) | N/A | N/A | |
| Rescula | BAK | 0.015% | |
| Combination drugs | Brimonidine/Timolol | BAK | 0.005% |
| Timolol/Dorzolamide | BAK | 0.0075% | |
| Brinzolamide/Brimonidine | BAK | 0.003% | |
| Anti-infectives | |||
| Antibacterials | Gentamicin | BAK | 0.02% |
| Gentamicin ointment | Methylparaben/Propylparaben | ||
| Tobramycin | BAK | 0.02% | |
| Sulfacetamide | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Polysporin/trimethoprim sulfa | BAK | 0.004% | |
| Gramicidin/Neosporin/polymyxin b (solution) | Thimerosal | 0.001% | |
| Bacitracin/Neosporin/polymyxin b (ointment) | PF | None | |
| Bacitracin/ Polymyxin b (ointment) | PF | N/A | |
| Ciprofloxacin | BAK | 0.006% | |
| Ofloxacin | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Norfloxacin | BAK | 0.0025% | |
| Levofloxacin 0.5% | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Levofloxacin 1.5% | PF | N/A | |
| Gatifloxacin | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Moxifloxacin | PF | N/A | |
| Besifloxacin | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Azithromycin | BAK | 0.003% | |
| Chloramphenicol | Phenylmercuric nitrate | 0.002% | |
| Erythromycin (ointment) | PF | N/A | |
| Oxytetracycline/polymyxin b | |||
| Antifungal | Natamycin | BAK | 0.02% |
| Corticosteroid/ Antibiotic Combinations | Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates, Bacitracin Zinc and Hydrocortisone (ointment) | PF | N/A |
| Loteprednol/tobramycin | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Sulfacetamide 10%/Prednisolone acetate (drops) | BAK | 0.004% | |
| Sulfacetamide 10%/ Prednisolone acetate (ointment) | Phenylmercuric acetate | 0.0008% | |
| Tobramycin/Dexamethasone (ointment) | Chlorobutanol | 0.5% | |
| Tobramycin/Dexamethasone (drops) | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Sulfacetamide/Prednisolone phosphate | Thimerosal | 0.01% | |
| Antivirals | Vidarabine | PF | N/A |
| Idoxuridine | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Trifluridine | Thimerosal | 0.001% | |
| Ganciclovir | BAK | 0.0075% | |
| Anti-Inflammatories/anti-infectives | |||
| NSAIDs | Cromolyn Sodium | BAK | 0.01% |
| Diclofenac | Sorbic Acid | 0.2% | |
| Ketorolac 0.4% | BAK | 0.006% | |
| Ketorolac 0.5% | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Nepafenac | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Anti-allergics | Ketotifen | BAK | 0.01% |
| Naphazoline | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Olopatadine | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Necrodomil | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Epinastine | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Lodoxamide | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Alcaftadine | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Corticosteroids | Loteprednol | BAK | 0.007% |
| Fluorometholone | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Prednisolone acetate | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Prednisolone phosphate | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Dexamethasone Phosphate (drops) | BAK | 0.02% | |
| Rimexolone | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Difluprednate | Sorbic acid | 0.1% | |
| Artificial Tears | |||
| Bion Tears (PFU) | PF | N/A | |
| Genteal family (PFU) | Sodium Perborate | ||
| Hypotears | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Systane lubricant eye gel | Sodium perborate | ||
| Systane (ointment) | PF | N/A | |
| Tears Naturale II | Polyquaternium-1 | 0.001% | |
| Tears Naturale Forte | Polyquaternium-1 | 0.001% | |
| Systane Ultra | Polyquaternium-1 | 0.001% | |
| Systane Balance | Polyquaternium-1 | 0.001% | |
| Refresh family (PFU) | Purite | ||
| Soothe Hydration | Sorbic Acid | 0.1% | |
| Soothe Long-lasting | BAK | 0.005% | |
| Soothe Tired | BAK | 0.01% | |
| Theratears | Sodium perborate | ||
| Visine | BAK | ||
BAK - Benzalkonium chloride, PFU - Preservative -Free Unit Dose, PF- Preservative Free.
⁎
Many preparations include other components which may have antimicrobial effect, e.g. EDTA, boric acid, etc.… which are proportionally less toxic.