Toxicity of selected antibiotics in vitreous replacement fluid.

Experiments with rabbits demonstrated no toxic effects on the retina after vitrectomy when the infusion fluid contained either 20 microgram/ml chloramphenicol saline, 10 microgram/ml amikacin saline, 10 microgram/ml tobramycin saline, or 10 microgram/ml clindamycin saline. We found abnormal electroretinograms and abnormal histologic findings in eyes receiving vitreous replacement with these same drugs in higher concentrations.