[Ocular penetration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate via soft contact lenses]

The ocular penetration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate was measured by HPLC and RIA, and the concentrations in the aqueous humor and iris of a soft contact lens (SCL) group and eyedrop-only group of white rabbits were compared. The efficacy of dexamethasone phosphate eyedrops in eyes of white rabbits with SCL was also investigated using protein in the aqueous humor of the eyes of rabbits with experimental endophthalmitis induced by endotoxin and prostaglandin E2 as an index. The concentration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate transferred to the aqueous humor and irises in the SCL group was significantly higher than that in the eyedrop-only group. SCLs containing dexamethasone sodium phosphate was effective against experimental endophthalmitis, and the protein in the aqueous humor was significantly lower in the SCL group than in the controls.