Decrease in tear bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in eyes with carbon containing eyeliners

Objective: We studied the tear bioavailability of topical ciprofloxacin 0.3 % eyedrops in eyes having an eyeliner and compared the level to the fellow eye without the eyeliner. Methods: We enrolled a total of 10 patients; 6 females and 4 males, with an age range of 32 to 40 years. One drop of ciprofloxacin 0.3% was instilled in each eye one eye had carbon-based eyeliner placed at the lid margin and the fellow eye had no eyeliner. Tear samples were collected at 1 and 5 hour s following the application of topical ciprofloxacin. hour, eyes Results: At one concentration in was 1.61 mg/l compared to 2.35 mg/l in eye s without eyeliner (p < 0.05). the mean with eyeliner ciprofloxacin tear At 5 hours, the mean concentration of ciprofloxacin was 0.17 mg/l in eyes wit h eyeliner and 0.24 mg/l in eyes without the eyeliner (p <0.1). Conclusions: Application of carbon-based eyeliner may cause a decrease in t he bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in the tear film compared to eyes witho ut the eyeliner. It is proposed that carbon may cause adsorption of the cip rofloxacin and decrease the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in the tear fi lm. Patients on topical ciprofloxacin may have to be asked to avoid the use of carbon-based eyeliners.