Ocular Penetration of Prednisolone and the Hydrophilic Contact Lens

Ocular penetration of prednisolone sodium phosphate was studied with and without the physiological hydrophilic polymer soft contact lens in rabbits. In one group corticosteroid was administered topically after the lens was in place. In another group the lens was presoaked for two minutes in corticosteroid before being applied to the eye. The levels of corticosteroid that were obtained in aqueous, cornea, and iris were compared to topical administration without the lens. Aqueous and corneal levels of corticosteroid were maintained twofold to three-fold higher at four hours in eyes with the presoaked lens than in eyes receiving the drug topically without the lens. Application of the drug topically to a soft lens already in place in the eye resulted in diminished corticosteroid levels in the anterior segment at one and two hours.