NBEO Ocular Pharmacology Practice Exam 2026 - Free Ocular Pharmacology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Topical ophthalmic medications are applied directly to the eye, which allows them to act locally at their site of action without undergoing significant systemic absorption. The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug whereby it is metabolized at a specific location (usually the liver) before it reaches systemic circulation. Because topical ophthalmic medications primarily target the ocular tissues and their systemic absorption is minimal, they do not go through the first-pass metabolism like orally administered drugs. Therefore, the correct response is that topical ophthalmic medications do not undergo the first-pass effect.