Bioavailability of hydrocortisone acetate from ophthalmic ointments.

The biopharmaceutical studies of 1% hydrocortisone acetate ophthalmic ointments were carried out with isolated pig's eyes and demonstrated that the drug concentration in intraocular fluids depended on: a) ointment base used - the best bioavailability was obtained using white petrolatum with addition of 10% anhydrous lanolin, b) eye fluid examined - concentration of hydrocortisone acetate in aqueous humor was several times higher than in vitreous humor, c) presence of corneal epithelium - in all studied cases abrasion of corneal epithelium was accompanied by well-marked increase of drug concentration in intraocular fluids.