Penetration of topically applied gatifloxacin 0.3%, moxifloxacin 0.5%, and ciprofloxacin 0.3% into the aqueous humor
Received 22 June 2004; accepted 23 September 2004. published online 07 January 2005.
Purpose
To investigate the aqueous penetration of 3 commercially available ophthalmic fluoroquinolones.
Design
Prospective, double-masked, clinical study.
Participants
Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients.
Intervention
Fifty-two patients undergoing cataract surgery were given preoperative topical gatifloxacin 0.3% (Zymar), moxifloxacin 0.5% (Vigamox), or ciprofloxacin 0.3% (Ciloxan). The patients were instructed to use their antibiotic drops 4 times a day for 3 days before surgery. On the day of surgery, patients were given their assigned antibiotic every 15 minutes for 3 doses, 1 hour before their procedure. At the time of surgery, 0.1 ml of aqueous fluid was aspirated from the anterior chamber with an air cannula needle attached to a tuberculin syringe. The aspirate was immediately stored at −70° C.
Main outcome measure
Fluoroquinolone concentrations were determined by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography assay technique with ultraviolet detection at a wavelength of 275 nm.
Results
Mean aqueous concentration of gatifloxacin in 16 eyes was 0.63 μg/ml (standard deviation [SD], 0.30), moxifloxacin in 14 eyes was 1.31 μg/ml (SD, 0.46), and the mean concentration of ciprofloxacin in 22 eyes was 0.15 μg/ml (SD, 0.11).
Conclusions
Both moxifloxacin (P<0.001) and gatifloxacin (P<0.005) penetrated the aqueous humor at significantly higher levels than ciprofloxacin. Moxifloxacin penetrated into the aqueous humor at significantly higher levels than gatifloxacin (P<0.05). The anterior chamber levels of moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin may be due to the difference in antibiotic concentration.
1Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Rockville Centre, New York
2Department of Ophthalmology, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York
3Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Correspondence and reprint requests to Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Ryan Medical Arts Building, Suite 402, 2000 North Village Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Manuscript no. 240489.
Supported by an unrestricted grant from Allergan Inc., Irvine, California, and Alcon Laboratories Inc., Fort Worth, Texas.
ABSTRACT