Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • Follow pda on Twitter
  • Visit PDA on LinkedIn
  • Visit pda on Facebook
Case ReportCase Studies

Case Study: Visual Inspection of Topical Ophthalmic Formulations Packaged in Opaque and Semi-Transparent Containers: Working towards alignment with USP<790> Visible Inspection of Injections

Mary Lee Ciolkowski, Ann T. Davis, Alexa Harding and Stacey M. Platzer
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology February 2025, pdajpst.2024.003017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5731/pdajpst.2024.003017
Mary Lee Ciolkowski
R&D and Quality, Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY;
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: marylee.ciolkowski@bausch.com
Ann T. Davis
R&D and Quality, Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY;
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alexa Harding
R&D and Quality, Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY;
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Stacey M. Platzer
R&D and Quality, Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY;
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Topical ophthalmic solutions, suspensions, and emulsions are typically packaged in opaque or semi-transparent plastic dropper bottles. This packaging provides resistance to breakage and controlled drop size needed in ophthalmic container systems. Recent changes to general chapter USP<771> Ophthalmic Products - Quality Tests have impacted the particulate and foreign matter testing requirements for ophthalmic products dosed via topical application. The USP<771> chapter instructs that topical products undergo visual inspection for particulate matter as described in general chapter USP<790> Visible Particulates in Injections. Visual inspection for particulates in the filled unit is not feasible due to lack of package transparency and therefore alternative test strategies are needed to evaluate the acceptability of the batch. Aspects of this visual inspection approach include: a statistically based sampling plan for the batch, a destructive testing process and acceptance limits based on manufacturing process capability supported with benchmark testing of competitor products to confirm manufacturing performance. Overall, the visual inspection program should include: historical trending; process monitoring; and upstream lifecycle controls for facilities, raw materials, components, and product contact equipment to meet current regulatory expectations and good manufacturing practices.

  • Visual Inspection
  • Particulate Matter
  • Topical Ophthalmic Formulations
  • Opaque Containers
  • Received September 13, 2024.
  • Accepted January 25, 2025.
  • Copyright © 2025, Parenteral Drug Association

PDA members receive access to all articles published in the current year and previous volume year. Institutional subscribers received access to all content. Log in below to receive access to this article if you are either of these.  

If you are neither or you are a PDA member trying to access an article outside of your membership license, then you must purchase access to this article (below). If you do not have a username or password for JPST, you will be required to create an account prior to purchasing. 

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only.

Note to pda.org users

The PDA and PDA bookstore websites (www.pda.org and www.pda.org/bookstore) are separate websites from the PDA JPST website. When you first join PDA, your initial UserID and Password are sent to HighWirePress to create your PDA JPST account. Subsequent UserrID and Password changes required at the PDA websites will not pass on to PDA JPST and vice versa. If you forget your PDA JPST UserID and/or Password, you can request help to retrieve UserID and reset Password below.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Log in through your institution

You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.
If your organization uses OpenAthens, you can log in using your OpenAthens username and password. To check if your institution is supported, please see this list. Contact your library for more details.

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.

patientACCESS

patientACCESS - Patients desiring access to articles

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only. You can join PDA at www.pda.org. 

PreviousNext
Back to top

In This Issue

PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology: 79 (1)
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
Vol. 79, Issue 1
January/February 2025
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
  • Complete Issue (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Case Study: Visual Inspection of Topical Ophthalmic Formulations Packaged in Opaque and Semi-Transparent Containers: Working towards alignment with USP Visible Inspection of Injections
(Your Name) has sent you a message from PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
6 + 11 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Case Study: Visual Inspection of Topical Ophthalmic Formulations Packaged in Opaque and Semi-Transparent Containers: Working towards alignment with USP<790> Visible Inspection of Injections
Mary Lee Ciolkowski, Ann T. Davis, Alexa Harding, Stacey M. Platzer
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Feb 2025, pdajpst.2024.003017; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2024.003017

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Case Study: Visual Inspection of Topical Ophthalmic Formulations Packaged in Opaque and Semi-Transparent Containers: Working towards alignment with USP<790> Visible Inspection of Injections
Mary Lee Ciolkowski, Ann T. Davis, Alexa Harding, Stacey M. Platzer
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Feb 2025, pdajpst.2024.003017; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2024.003017
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • A Risk Assessment and Risk Based Approach Review of Pre-use/Post Sterilization Integrity Testing (PUPSIT)
  • A Case Study in Application of the Risk Knowledge Infinity Cycle
Show more Case Studies

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • visual inspection
  • Particulate matter
  • Topical ophthalmic formulations
  • Opaque containers

Readers

  • About
  • Table of Content Alerts/Other Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Editors

Author/Reviewer Information

  • Author Resources
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Reviewers
  • Contact Editors

Parenteral Drug Association, Inc.

  • About
  • Advertising/Sponsorships
  • Events
  • PDA Bookstore
  • Press Releases

© 2025 PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Print ISSN: 1079-7440  Digital ISSN: 1948-2124

Powered by HighWire