|Articles|May 1, 2014

Brand vs. generic: Which is best cataract surgery medicine?

Substituting generic products for brand name innovators in cataract surgery medication regimens can bring trade-offs in efficacy, safety, and convenience, perhaps with just modest savings in cost.

Take-home: Substituting generic products for brand name innovators in cataract surgery medication regimens can bring trade-offs in efficacy, safety, and convenience, perhaps with just modest savings in cost.

 

Dr. Donnenfield

By Cheryl Guttman Krader; Reviewed by Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Stephen S. Lane, MD, and Francis S. Mah, MD

Brand name medications may cost more than generic alternatives, but the extra money spent is well worthwhile considering the many other ways innovator products differ from generic pharmaceuticals, according to leading cataract surgeons.

Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Stephen S. Lane, MD, and Francis S. Mah, MD, discussed why they prefer to write prescriptions for brand name antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory products in their cataract surgery medication regimens.

Dr. Mah acknowledged that generic products do provide a service by virtue of their lower upfront cost. However, he emphasized that decisions on medications should also take into account efficacy, safety, and dosing convenience.

Low cost not always most important

“You really can’t put a price on the benefits of better safety and efficacy,” said Dr. Mah, director, cornea and external disease, and co-director, refractive surgery, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA.

The bottom line, Dr. Donnenfeld said, is that the branded products of the medications used in cataract surgery offer significant advantages over their generic counterparts, and the differences translate into better outcomes.

“Achieving premium outcomes with cataract surgery requires the use of premium pharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Donnenfeld, clinical professor of ophthalmology, New York University, New York, and founding partner, Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and Connecticut, Rockville Centre, NY.

Similarly, Dr. Lane- adjunct professor of ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and medical director, Associated Eye Care, Stillwater, MN- summed up his preference for prescribing brand name products as being based on a focus to provide the best possible care.

“Patients must be educated so that they understand that saving money is not as important as taking care of their problem,” he said.  “Patients should be made aware that use of a less expensive generic medication may be done at some risk.”

 

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