title: Bottle Characteristics of Topical International Glaucoma Medications versus Local Brands in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical bottle characteristics differ of brand name topical glaucoma medications and local generic equivalents. This study compares the bottle characteristics of international topical glaucoma brands versus local brands from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected on bottle drum volume, drop volume, bottle squeezability, bottle tip diameter, labels and instructions, cap color coding, and clarity of the drug label. Density-based calculations of drops in bottle volume were assessed using an analytic balance. Bottle tip diameter was measured using 0.05 mm Vernier calipers. A Likert scale-based questionnaire was used to evaluate the subjective opinions of patients on bottle squeezability, clarity of usage and storage instructions, and the consistency of the cap color coding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volumes of international brands were statistically significantly higher than the local brands (P< 0.001). A number of drops per bottle and tip diameter were comparable between the international local brands. Cap color coding was inconsistent for international and local brands. Patients were dissatisfied with the label font size. Patients reported that the international and local brands were similar in terms of the ease of opening the bottle, instilling a drop, and the clarity of the instructions; but the local brands were subjectively easier to squeeze than international brands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to compare bottle characteristics of local Saudi Arabia brands with international brands. The bottle characteristics and patient feedback were similar between the local and international topical glaucoma medications. However, there were differences between the local and international brands in drug volume, bottle squeezability. Hence, patient compliance and drop dosage may differ based on the origin of manufacture.
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Jumaian
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Humaidan
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Madany
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Reham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Qahtani
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altowairqi
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulwahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Theeb
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Babar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al-Djasim
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: E Randy
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.affiliation: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Deepak P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Edward
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000592:standards*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Bottle characteristics; bottle tip diameter; drug volume; glaucoma; glaucoma medication; survey