Pilocarpine delivery by hydrophilic lens in the management of acute glaucoma

Patients with acute closed-angle glaucoma were treated with a hydrophilic contact lens saturated in 1, 4, or 8 per cent. pilocarpine or bt intensive 4 per cent. pilocarpine drops. The greatest hypotensive response was produced by the 1 per cent. presoaked lens and increased strength of soaking solution gave reduced response. Intensive drops gave the least response. In vitro studies show that the lens is effectively saturated after 2 hrs' soaking holds c. 700 mug. pilocarpine and yields almost all of the contained pilocarpine after 2 hrs' elution. The method of lens preparation is described and pharmaceutical studies confirm a shelf life of 4 months in a domestic refrigerator.