Effect of anti-infective ophthalmic solutions on corneal cells in vitro

External ocular infections caused by susceptible strains of bacteria have recently been treated with potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial solutions. This study was conducted to compare the in vitro biologic effects of three anti-infective ophthalmic solutions (Ocuflox, Ciloxan, and Tobramycin) on rabbit corneal epithelial cell cultures. Epithelial cell layers from albino rabbit eyes were isolated and incubated in culture media for 9 days, following which the cultures were rinsed and treated with the anti-infective solutions. Ciloxan and Tobramycin caused extensive ethidium bromide staining of the corneal epithelial cell layer after 5, 10, and 15 minutes, indicating acute cell membrane damage. Ocuflox ophthalmic solution caused less ethidium bromide staining at all evaluated times and, therefore, less cell membrane damage than the comparator solutions.