Clotrimazole and bifonazole in the topical treatment of Candida keratitis in rabbits.

Using a reproducible model of Candida albicans keratitis in rabbits we studied the effect of topical clotrimazole and bifonazole. Candida albicans DSM 70010 (2.5 X 10(5) cells) was injected into the corneal stroma of both eyes of 28 rabbits. All eyes developed a corneal ulcer. Fourty-eight hours after inoculation the animals were divided into four groups: I (14 eyes) receiving 10 X clotrimazole 1% drops and subsequently removing the epithelium; II (14 eyes) receiving only clotrimazole drops; III (8 eyes) receiving 6 x bifonazole 1% drops and IV (19 eyes) serving as control (0.9% NaCl castor oil, untreated), 6 eyes of this group were also debrided. A further 6 rabbits were used respectively to judge if the drugs penetrated into the cornea and aqueous humor. There was a significant difference between the clotrimazole group with debridement (I) and the bifonazole group (IV) concerning hypopyon and complications (descemetocele, corneal perforation). Clotrimazole penetrated into the cornea and after debridement into the aqueous humor. Bifonazole could not be identified in the cornea or aqueous humor.