Efficacy and safety of short-duration topical treatment with azithromycin oil-based eyedrops in an experimental model of corneal refractive surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the tolerance and side effects of azithromycin eyedrops at the ocular surface after corneal refractive surgery in an experimental animal model.


METHODS
The effect of azithromycin eyedrops was evaluated in hen corneas that underwent laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery in 1 eye, using the fellow eye (not manipulated) as a control. Animals were treated bid 3 days prior to surgery and 3 days after surgery with T1225 1.5% azithromycin eyedrops or saline eyedrops (balanced salt solution), or were left untreated as a control. Clinical course and cell biology (apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation) measurements were assessed.


RESULTS
Infections were present in the following proportions of corneas operated on by LASIK: 0% treated with azithromycin, 60% treated with BSS, and 30% untreated. No corneal abscess or keratitis were present in any PRK or unmanipulated corneas. Conjunctival edema and redness were less prevalent in LASIK-operated eyes treated with azithromycin than in BSS-treated or untreated eyes and were not observed in any PRK or unmanipulated corneas. In PRK-operated eyes treated with azithromycin, a decrease was observed in the apoptosis and an increase in the stromal proliferation. There were no differences in these parameters for LASIK and unmanipulated eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical administration of T1225 oil-based azithromycin eyedrops was well tolerated in both unmanipulated hen corneas and those treated with corneal refractive surgery (PRK and LASIK). T1225 demonstrated a potent antibiotic effect after LASIK treatment.
Merayo-Lloves
Jesús
J
Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobilogía Aplicada (IOBA), Valladolid, Spain. merayo@telefonica.net
Blanco-Mezquita
Tomás
T
Ibares-Frías
Lucía
L
Cantalapiedra-Rodríguez
Roberto
R
Alvarez-Barcia
Angel
A
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D048988:Corneal Surgery, Laser; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D009821:Oils; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009821:Oils; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D017963:Azithromycin