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[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Cost comparison of topical fluoroquinolones: Zymar (gatifloxacin 0.3%), Vigamox (levofloxacin 0.5%), Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin HCl 0.3%), and ciprofloxacin (generic)

Sherman Tung, Navpreet Johar, Kaori Asano, and Eileen M. Gable, OD, FAAO. Illinois College of Optometry, 3241 South Michigan Ave. #620, Chicago, IL 60616, 3128480233, shermantung@gmail.com

Fluoroquinolones are the leading medication to treat bacterial corneal ulcers in the United States and Canada due its effective mechanism. There are approximately 75,200 people that need them for treatment each year. There are currently no public health papers written on cost comparison between the most prescribed ocular fluoroquinolones. Therefore, we designed a study that compares the prices between the ocular fluoroquinolones: Vigamox (levofloxacin 0.5%), Zymar (gatifloxacin 0.3%), Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin HCL 0.3%) and ciprofloxacin generic in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. The data we found will aid in the decision making process for optometrists when treating those patients who are uninsured or in financial need. The outcome of our research showed that uninsured Americans pays on average, approximately 2 times more than government pays and 3 times more than Canadians pay for the same four fluoroquinolones. Upon comparison of prices throughout different areas of the U.S., uninsured Americans on average paid about the same price for each leading brand of drug. On average, Zymar and Vigamox were the more expensive drugs compared to the Ciloxan and its generic.

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