Corneal penetration of levofloxacin into the human aqueous humour: a comparison with ciprofloxacin.
OBJECTIVE
To compare aqueous humour levels of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin following topical application to patients scheduled for cataract surgery.


METHODS
A total of 59 patients undergoing cataract surgery were randomly assigned to topical treatment with either levofloxacin 0.5% or ciprofloxacin 0.3% eye drops, at one drop every 15 min for four doses immediately prior to surgery. Aqueous humour samples were collected by paracentesis and analysed for drug content.


RESULTS
The (geometric) mean aqueous humour concentration of levofloxacin was 0.728 microg/ml; that of ciprofloxacin was 0.080 microg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Levofloxacin achieves 9.1 times the aqueous humour concentration of ciprofloxacin. It could be considered a better choice than ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin for topical ophthalmic use.
Colin
Joseph
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France. joseph.colin@chu-bordeaux.fr
Simonpoli
Sylvie
S
Geldsetzer
Klaus
K
Ropo
Auli
A
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin