Experimental transscleral iontophoresis of ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin was administered into the aqueous humor and vitreous body of the rabbit eye by transscleral iontophoresis. Positively and negatively charged forms of the drug molecule were tested. Therapeutic concentrations of ciprofloxacin were achieved in the aqueous body only when the negatively charged drug molecule was used. Ciprofloxacin did not reach the vitreous body in therapeutic concentrations in either the positively or negatively charged form, but higher concentrations were achieved when the drug was negatively charged. Peak levels were obtained in the aqueous and vitreous bodies (0.62 micrograms/ml and 0.19 micrograms/ml, respectively) one hour after transscleral iontophoresis of negatively charged ciprofloxacin at 5 mA for 15 minutes.