Purpose: To determine the ocular penetration of ofloxacin into the anterior
chamber of the human eye when delivered by a presoaked collagen shield.
Setting: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
Methods: This prospective randomized clinical study comprised 31 patients h
aving cataract surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the first rece
ived 3 preoperative drops of commercially available topical ofloxacin 0.3%
given 10 minutes apart; the second had a collagen shield soaked in the same
medication applied to the eye before surgery. Aqueous humor was extracted
immediately before surgery for analysis.
Results: Mean aqueous concentration was 287 ng/mL +/- 69 (SEM) (range 40 to
1141 ng/mL) in the drops group and 957 +/- 189 ng/mL (range 214 to 2437 ng
/mL) in the shield group. The difference was statistically significant (P <
.005). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for selected ocular path
ogens is between 500 and 4000 ng/mL.
Conclusions: A collagen shield presoaked in commercially available topical
ofloxacin and applied before surgery appears safe. The MICs for many common
ocular pathogens were reached or exceeded. Further study is recommended to
determine whether this method of infection prophylaxis is an acceptable su
bstitute for subconjunctival injections of antibiotics.