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The Food and Drug Administration memorandum of May 28, 1963, titled "Contraindications and Side Effects of Certain Opthalmic (sic) Preparations" from Ralph G. Smith, MD, to George P. Larrick, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, has been circulated among ophthalmologists and others. Based on "recent information gathered by the medical staff of the FDA with the assistance of a number of outside medical experts" it asserts a need to warn physicians of certain contraindications to and side-effects in the ophthalmic use of topical corticosteroid preparations including their combinations with antimicrobial drugs. This warning is to be incorporated in the labeling and manufacturers' advertisements for these drug preparations. Two aspects of this memorandum cause concern. In the first place it rests on the assumption that those using these drugs are able to make an etiologic diagnosis of the conditions listed. Secondly, the conditions listed under "contraindications" may in certain cases be benefited