Mechanistic studies on transcorneal permeation of fluorometholone.

The mechanism of corneal fluorometholone penetration was studied using albino rabbits, and the apparent rate and extent of steroid accumulation in the various cell layers of the cornea and aqueous humor were determined for normal and abraded eyes. The results are compared and contrasted to the mechanism previously reported for pilocarpine. Fluorometholone readily penetrates the intact corneal epithelium and accumulates in the hydrophilic stromal layers of the cornea. The kinetic profile is similar to that of pilocarpine and is largely a result of the pre-corneal dynamic processes. Pharmacokinetic parameters for each tissue were determined to establish an overall mechanism for corneal permeation of the steroid.