Idoxuridine ocular insert therapy. Use in treatment of experimental Herpes simplex keratitis.

Therapy of acute Herpes simplex keratitis in rabbits with idoxuridine-releasing ocular inserts showed that an application rate of 30mug/hr gave significantly better results than conventional treatment with idoxuridine drops and ointment while exposing the eye to 40% less drug. Delivery rates lower than this were equal or not as effective as drop and ointment therapy and rates up to 100 mug/hr did not produce significantly better results than rates of 30mug/hr. Serial viral cultures demonstrated the persistence of virus beyond the period of clinical resolution of disease in all treatment groups, indicating that therapy should be continued longer than apparent resolution of disease.