Comparison of aqueous humour and vitreous humour levels of two 0.3% ciprofloxacin eyedrops.

BACKGROUND

Two ophthalmic solutions of 0.3% ciprofloxacin eyedrops are available in Turkey: Ciloxan and Siprogut. The objective of this study was to compare the concentrations of drug produced by the two products in the aqueous humour and vitreous humour after local administration.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients undergoing primary vitreoretinal surgery received either Ciloxan (10 patients) or Siprogut (11 patients). Six hours before surgery, two drops of solution were instilled onto the operative eye. Drops were then instilled every 30 minutes for the first 3 hours and then hourly for the next 3 hours. Aqueous and vitreous samples were collected 30 minutes after administration of the last dose and were assayed for ciprofloxacin concentration by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection.

RESULTS

The mean aqueous humour concentrations of Ciloxan and Siprogut were 0.36 (standard error of the mean [SEM] 0.09) microgram/mL and 0.44 (SEM 0.17) microgram/mL respectively. The corresponding vitreous humour concentrations were 0.21 (SEM 0.05) microgram/mL and 0.22 (SEM 0.06) microgram/mL. Neither of these differences was statistically significant. The aqueous and vitreous levels of both products exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations for certain bacterial species that frequently cause intraocular infections.

INTERPRETATION

Our results show that the ocular bioavailability of Ciloxan and Siprogut after local administration is equivalent. Penetration of ciprofloxacin into the vitreous humour seems to be poorer than that into the aqueous humour.