KINETICS OF CORNEAL DRUG UPTAKE STUDIED BY CORNEAL PERFUSION INSITU .1. EVALUATION OF SYSTEM AND UPTAKE OF ETHYL PARA-AMINOBENZOATE IN RABBITS

An in situ corneal perfusion system which enables quantitation of corneal drug uptake is described. By determining the decline in drug concentration in the perfusion apparatus as a function of time, it is possible to measure drug clearance from the system thereby obtaining a measure of corneal drug uptake. Using this method, the clearance from the system of ethyl p-aminobenzoate by rabbit corneas was investigated. The in situ perfusion system provides reproducible results and obviates many of the problems associated with isolated, in vitro corneal studies. This method can be utilized to study the effect of physical-chemical drug properties on corneal uptake, as well as in ocular pharmacokinetic modeling and dosage form evaluation. © 1979.