title: The intraocular penetration of dexamethasone after photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on intraocular steroid penetration.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess steroid penetration after PRK, four rabbits underwent unilateral myopic 9.90-D PRK procedures. The other eye was left undisturbed as a control. One week later both eyes received hourly doses of radiolabeled topical dexamethasone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in corneal tissue [(mean +/- 1 SD) PRK 4.8 +/- 1.1 micrograms/g, control 5.2 +/- 1.2 micrograms/g] or aqueous humor concentration [(mean +/- 1 SD) PRK 0.8 +/- 0.12 microgram/ml, control 0.9 +/- 0.05 microgram/ml] of dexamethasone was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexamethasone penetration in eyes 1 week following PRK is similar to that of the unablated cornea.
authors.affiliation: Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201-1423, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tayfour
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cowden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone