Fusidic acid in tear fluid: pharmacokinetic study with fusidic acid viscous eye drops.

Fusidic acid viscous eye drops, Fucithalmic (R), is a new eye antibiotic preparation which shows sustained-release properties. The long-lasting antibiotic concentrations in tear fluid can be ascribed to the carbomer used in the vehicle. Fusidic acid viscous eye drops was found to give significantly higher tear fluid concentrations than chloramphenicol viscous eye drops, the latter based on methylcellulose when investigated in rabbit eyes and dog eyes. In volunteers the excretion half-life of fusidic acid from tears was found to be 1.9 h. From a pharmacokinetic point of view and from already available clinical data, fusidic acid viscous eye drops would seem to be effective when given only twice daily.