Drug delivery by ionic hydrogel contact lenses in preoperative prophylaxis of intraocular infections

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the efficiency of ophthalmic drug delivery through ionic hydrogel soft contact lenses (SCL) in comparison with eye drops in preoperative prophylaxis of intraocular infections.Methods The efficiency of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin delivered via SCL was compared to eye drops in patients having cataract surgery. Investigations were conducted with 1‐DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® hydrogel SCL, saturated with moxifloxacin solution 0.16 % (Avelox) and levofloxacin solution 0.5% (Tavanic), which were put on the cornea (Group 1). Another group of patients were given five times the dosage of these drugs (Group 2). These manipulations were made one hour before phacoemulsification in both groups. Aqueous samples (0.1 mL) were collected at the beginning of the surgery. The antibiotic concentration in aqueous aliquots was determined using spectrofluorimetry and liquid chromatography.Results Maximum therapeutic concentrations (TC) of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin in the aqueous humor were achieved after 4 hours 18.0 ± 2.0 and 9.0 ± 1.2 μg/mL (Group 1), followed by gradual decrease of them (p<0.05). TC lasted no less than 6 hours. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were only achieved by eye drops of the same drugs (Group 2). Moxifloxacin and levofloxacin delivered via SCL in 10 and 5 times respectively increased the relative bioavailability in comparison with the eye drops of these antibiotics.Conclusion 1. The application of ionic hydrogel soft contact lenses is an effective drug delivery method. 2. Ionic hydrogel soft contact lenses, saturated with moxifloxacin and levofloxacin, provide a therapeutic antibiotic concentration in the aqueous humor. 3. Ophthalmic drug delivery through contact lenses increases bioavailability.