Hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens as a drug-delivery system: Pilot study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the ability of a hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) to serve as a drug-delivery system for commercially available gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin.

SETTING

David J. Apple, MD, Laboratories for Ophthalmic Devices Research, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

METHODS

Hydrophilic acrylic IOLs (C-flex, Rayner Ltd.), presoaked for 24 hours in commercially available solutions of gatifloxacin (Zymar) or moxifloxacin (Vigamox), were implanted in the capsular bag of 6 rabbits for a total of 12 eyes (6 in each group). Aqueous humor samples were taken 2, 4, and 6 hours after implantation. One rabbit served as a control and had nonpresoaked C-flex IOLs implanted. At the end of the operation, 1 drop of Vigamox was applied to the right eye and 1 drop of Zymar was applied to the left eye of the control rabbit.

RESULTS

High concentrations of both antibiotics were found in all the samples of the eyes implanted with the presoaked IOLs. The concentrations of the antibiotics decreased over time, but even the 6-hour sample concentrations were markedly higher than the concentrations found in the control rabbit after 4 hours.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the Rayner C-flex IOL can be effective as a drug-delivery system for fourth-generation fluoroquinolones.