Amvisc Plus

• It is used for eye surgeries.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as a shot into the eye.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this medicine, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

Applies to sodium hyaluronate ophthalmic: intraocular solution

AMVISC PLUS is a sterile nonpyrogenic solution of sodium hyaluronate.

AMVISC PLUS contains 16 mg/mL of sodium hyaluronate dissolved in a physiological sodium chloride phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8 - 7.6). In the limit of zero shear rate (1), the viscosity is 132,000 cP (132 Pa s) at 25°C and the osmolality is approximately 340 milliosmoles.

Characteristics:   Sodium hyaluronate is a high molecular weight polysaccharide composed of sodium glucuronate and N-acetylglucosamine. Sodium hyaluronate is ubiquitously distributed throughout the tissues of the body and is present in high concentrations in such tissues as vitreous humor, synovial fluid, umbilical cord and the dermis of rooster combs. Sodium hyaluronate functions as a tissue lubricant (1,2) and it is thought to play an important role in modulating the interactions between adjacent tissues. It can also act as a viscoelastic support maintaining a separation between tissues. Sodium hyaluronate prepared from different materials may have different molecular weights but is thought to have the same chemical structure. Sodium hyaluronate is also elaborated by certain bacteria as a protective substance. Those bacteria may be cultured by fermentation process to yield sodium hyaluronate. The sodium hyaluronate in AMVISC PLUS is prepared from the dermis of rooster combs (2). It has a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000, is reported to be nonantigenic (3,4), does not cause foreign body reactions, is nonpyrogenic and is well tolerated in human eyes (5). AMVISC PLUS does not interfere with normal wound healing processes.

Indications:   AMVISC PLUS is indicated for use as a surgical aid in ophthalmic anterior (6) and posterior (5) segment procedures including · extraction of a cataract · implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) · corneal transplantation surgery · glaucoma filtering surgery · surgical procedures to reattach the retina.

Because of its lubricating and viscoelastic properties, transparency and ability to protect corneal endothelial cells (7), AMVISC PLUS helps maintain anterior chamber depth and visibility, minimizes interaction between tissues, and acts as a tamponade and vitreous substitute during retina reattachment surgery. AMVISC PLUS also preserves tissue integrity and good visibility when used to fill the anterior and posterior segments of the eye following open sky procedures.