Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine whether topical gatifloxacin 0.3% or moxifloxacin 0.5% are toxic to the corneal epithelium of healthy human eyes.
Methods: :
In this double–masked, randomized, IRB–approved study, 44 subjects instilled gatifloxacin 0.3% in one eye and moxifloxacin 0.5% in the other, QID for 7–days or hourly for 10–hrs. Before and after dosing, all eyes were examined with a slit lamp and the central corneal epithelium was evaluated by confocal microscopy.
Results: :
Moxifloxacin 0.5% caused mild deterioration of the corneal epithelium as assessed by confocal microscopy (P=.045). Gatifloxacin 0.3% did not significantly change the corneal epithelium (P=.62). Neither antibiotic significantly increased superficial punctuate keratitis when instilled QID for 7 days or hourly for 10 hours. Hourly use of gatifloxacin 0.3% for 10 hours was associated with a mild increase in conjunctival hyperemia (P=.029).
Conclusions: :
Topical moxifloxacin 0.5% caused statistically significant epithelial deterioration while gatifloxacin 0.3% did not. The clinical significance should be further assessed.
Keywords: antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • cornea: epithelium