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The Clinical Applications of Fluorouracil in Ophthalmic Practice

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Abstract

Fluorouracil (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU) is a pyrimidine analogue that was originally known for its widespread use as an anticancer drug. The ability of 5-FU to reduce fibroblastic proliferation and subsequent scarring has made it an important adjunct in ocular and periorbital surgeries. It is used in primary glaucoma filtering surgeries and in reviving failing filtering blebs, in dacryocystorhinostomy, pterygium surgery, and in vitreoretinal surgery to prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In addition, 5-FU is also gaining recognition in the treatment and surgical management of ocular surface malignancies like ocular surface squamous neoplasia; however, the specific action of the drug on highly proliferating cells limits its use in primary acquired melanosis of the conjunctiva. When applied topically, this drug has a low rate of sight-threatening adverse effects, is inexpensive, and is easy to administer, making it an important tool in enhancing the success rate in ophthalmic surgery and in reducing the recurrence of ocular surface neoplasia.

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Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Glaucoma Services, South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Lekha M. Abraham & Robert Casson

  2. Oculoplastics and Orbital Unit, South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Dinesh Selva

  3. Departments of Medicine and Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Dinesh Selva & Robert Casson

  4. Oculoplastics and Orbital Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Igal Leibovitch

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  1. Lekha M. Abraham
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  2. Dinesh Selva
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  3. Robert Casson
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  4. Igal Leibovitch
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Correspondence to Igal Leibovitch.

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Abraham, L.M., Selva, D., Casson, R. et al. The Clinical Applications of Fluorouracil in Ophthalmic Practice. Drugs 67, 237–255 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200767020-00005

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