RX PERSPECTIVE

A two-in-one powerhouse

Bausch +Lomb’s Zylet fights infection while controlling inflammation.

By Zack Tertel, Senior Editor

Patients with symptomatic infections don’t just need an antibiotic — they need to effectively control inflammation. John Sheppard, president of Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk, says that loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% (Zylet, Bausch + Lomb) hits both targets.

“If I really want to get the job done and not see the patient again for the same problem, which chews up valuable doctor chair time and valuable patient personal or work time, I’ll take care of it right at the first visit,” Dr. Sheppard says.

MULTIPLE INDICATIONS

Douglas Katsev, MD, surgeon at Sansum Clinic Laser Eye Center in Santa Barbara, Calif., has found Zylet to be effective for his blepharitis patients.

“If you treat them with the usual lid scrubs and just an antibiotic, they may take a couple weeks to really get better,” says Dr. Katsev.

“I find that if you treat them with Zylet, you get the immediate effect of the anti-inflammatory so they improve within a matter of days, and you get the long-term effect of making sure their flora is decreased from the antibiotic.”

Dr. Sheppard recommends that patients take Zylet for 10 to 14 days when their symptoms flare up to quell an acute inflammatory episode. However, patients should not take Zylet for more than two weeks, he says, nor should the dose be weaned.

Dr. Sheppard also uses Zylet for patients with acute inflammatory bacterial conjunctivitis. Again, the one-two punch of a potent, broad-spectrum antibiotic with excellent methicillin staph coverage and potent anti-inflammatory properties make for an effective treatment. Other medications may be preferable as first-line treatments for mild acute cases, he says. Also, Zylet is effective in postoperative photorefractive keratectomy management.¹

Dr. Katsev says that Zylet works well for laser vision correction patients as well. “I really like combination medications because I want the anti-inflammatory effect for comfort but I want to cover them for any infections — although they are very uncommon.”

PATIENT RESULTS

Along with reduced inflammation and redness, those interviewed say the medication does not greatly raise intraocular pressure. Dr. Katsev adds that none of his patients on Zylet have experienced a significant spike in pressure.

However, in a 42-day safety study comparing Zylet to placebo, IOP increased in 10% of Zylet subjects compared to 4% of placebo subjects.²

Another study showed Zylet was less likely to produce elevated IOP than dexamethasone 0.1%/tobramycin 0.3% (Tobradex, Alcon).¹

Along with the patient benefits, knocking out an infection makes for happy patients, which helps greatly to increase your credibility and grow your practice, Dr. Sheppard says.

Dr. Sheppard reports that it’s not difficult to know whether Zylet has controlled patients’ symptoms.

“When I walk into the patient examination room, they have a smile on their face.” OM

REFERENCES