Collagen-shield delivery of gentamicin and vancomycin
R. B. Phinney, S. D. Schwartz, D. A. Lee and B. J. Mondino
Jules Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1771.
The ability of collagen-shield therapeutic contact lenses to release
gentamicin sulfate and vancomycin hydrochloride individually and in
combination was investigated using a fluorescent polarization immunoassay.
In vitro studies showed that presoaked collagen shields released the
majority of gentamicin within the first 30 minutes of elution, while
vancomycin was released gradually over six hours of elution. Three
experiments in rabbits compared the gentamicin and vancomycin levels
produced at five time points in tears, cornea, and aqueous humor by
collagen shields soaked in antibiotics vs frequent-drop therapy. The
collagen shields soaked in gentamicin, vancomycin, or a combination of the
two produced tear, cornea, and aqueous humor levels that were generally
higher or at least comparable with those achieved by frequent-drop therapy.
