Purpose: To assess the volume of each drop of Brazilian commercially available antiglaucomatous eyedrops and to compare the results with North-american equivalents in order to evaluate the economic implications. Methods: Volumetric study of drops and related impact in the cost of treatment. Results: Brazilian Alphagan® drop volume was 18% larger and the bottle had a 15.1% shorter mean duration resulting in a 17.8% higher annual cost. Brazilian Betoptic S® drop volume was 38.4% larger and the bottle had a 27.7% shorter mean duration resulting in 38.1% higher annual cost. Brazilian Iopidine® drop volume was 46.3% larger, the bottle had a 32.1% shorter mean duration resulting in 46.9% higher annual cost. Brazilian Timoptol® drop volume was 14.7% larger, the bottle had a 12.8% shorter mean duration resulting in 14.5% higher annual cost. Conclusions: In all tested medications the Brazilian eyedrop volume was larger, resulting in less duration of each bottle and significant higher cost.
Glaucoma; Glaucoma; Ophthalmic solutions; Drug costs; Drug quality; Comparative study; Brazil; United States
