Soluble Gentamicin Ophthalmic Inserts as a Drug Delivery System

• A comparison was made of soluble 14 C-gentamicin ophthalmic inserts with drop, ointment, and the subconjunctival routes of administration. The insert is a solid, solubilizable collagen polymer containing 14 C-gentamicin. We compared the levels of 14 C-gentamicin in the rabbit tear film and in multiple corneal and scleral biopsies to determine which route of administration gave the best results. The wafer route of administration gave the highest tear film and tissue concentration of drug. The tear film concentration by subconjunctival injection was surprisingly low. Soluble collagen inserts offer a new method of delivering high doses of gentamicin to infected corneal tissue in a convenient and atraumatic fashion.