Fluorescein supply hit by Swiss regulations

Confusion about the classification of fluorescein strips has caused significant supply problems in Europe after they were classified as medicines in Switzerland.

The European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) reported major issues after Swiss competent authority Meddec followed non-binding Meddev guidance to classify fluorescent ophthalmic strips for diagnostic purposes as medicinal products last year.

It has led to confusion among manufacturers in Switzerland and other countries, some of which had now ceased production, ECOO stated.

Armin Duddek, president of ECOO, said: 'We have recently met with the European Commission to set out the practical difficulties that reclassification of fluorescein strips causes for our sector.