Abstract
Purpose: :
Ocular drug delivery via an aerosol was compared to delivery via conventional drops in rabbits to determine equivalence of the two delivery systems.
Methods: :
0.25% fluorescein was administered with an OMRON nebulizer to rabbit cornea with and without a cone attachment designed to direct the aerosol onto the eye. Spray was delivered for 15 or 30 seconds and at varying distances from the cornea. Spray was compared to conventional drops onto the rabbit cornea. Aqueous fluid was withdrawn at 1 and/or 2 hours and fluorescein penetration measured as peak emission with a fluorophotometer.
Results: :
15 seconds of aerosol delivery with a cone attachment (2cm from cornea) resulted in an average peak fluorophotometer measurement of 0.57 at 1 hour and 5.26 at 2 hours. 15 seconds of aerosol delivery without a cone attachment (0.5cm from cornea) measured 6.10 at 2 hours. 30 seconds of aerosol delivery without a cone attachment (0.5cm from the cornea) measured 39.28 at 2 hours. Fluorescein delivered via drops resulted in average peak fluorophotometer measurement of 7.27 at 1 hour and 23.8 at 2 hours.
Conclusions: :
Aerosol delivery of 0.25% fluorescein may result in intraocular drug penetration comparable to conventional drops.
Keywords: drug toxicity/drug effects • pharmacology • aqueous