INDICES> Edetate disodium in corneal calcification (2)

["Janet McNeece" <Jmcneece@mail.rah.sa.gov.au>]

INDICES> Edetate disodium in corneal calcification (2)
-----------------------------------------------

Dear Michelle  

> Hi, I would like to know whether anyone has any experience/information
> regarding the use of edetate disodium (EDTA) in corneal calcification.
> I need to know the extemporaneous formulation of EDTA topical (eye) 
> solution. 

Here is a report complied by our intern Chun hope it is useful 

Janet McNeece 
Senior Pharmacist 
Medicines Information 
Royal Adelaide Hospital 

The use of disodium edetate in the treatment of corneal  calcification, 
although NOT approved by the US Food and Drugs  Administration, has been
documented by several sources.1,3,4   

According to the Moorfields Eye Hospital Formulary [London], a  0.37% 
solution is used for this indication.4  It is prepared  asceptically by 
diluting the commercially available edetate  disodium (3%) solution for 
injection.1   However, a 1 in 10 dilution  of the 3% solution using 0.9%
sodium chloride injection1 will  suffice and is what is prepared at the 
Royal Adelaide Hospital.   Higher concentrations of disodium edetate (up
to 1.85%) have been  used for dense calcium deposition.1   

The recommended procedure involves initial removal of the corneal  
epithelium, followed by prolonged irrigation of the eye with disodium  
edetate in combination with rubbing of the eye to aid dissolution of  
the calcium deposits.4   

It should be noted that only the disodium salt should be used for  this 
indication; sodium calcium edetate should NOT be used.2 


1. AHFS Drug Information (2003) American Society of Health- System 
Pharmacists, Bethesa, pp. 2860-2861. 

2. Closson, R.G., Skolnick, E.B. (1995) Edetate calcium disodium  is not
the edetate disodium indicated for chelation therapy of  corneal 
calcifications in band keratopathy or lime injury. Hospital  Pharmacy 
30: 971, 975-976. 

3. Martindale 32nd edn (1999) Pharmaceutical Press, London, p.  980. 

4. Moorfields Eye Hospital Formulary (1992) Moorfields Eye  Hospital, 
London, p. 69. 


Janet McNeece Senior Pharmacist, Medicines Information centre, Royal 
Adelaide Hospital South Australia, SA5063 
email jmcneece@mail.rah.sa.gov.au 
Telephone (61)8 8222 5546 
Fax  (61) 882225891
--
To send a message to Indices, write to: indices@healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe indices OR unsubscribe indices
To contact a person, send a message to: indices-help@healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.essentialdrugs.org/indices/