Published in:
01-10-2018 | Original Paper
Efficacy and safety of extemporaneously prepared miconazole eye drops in Candida albicans-induced keratomycosis
Published in: International Ophthalmology | Issue 5/2018
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Purpose
Extemporaneously prepared miconazole eye drops (EPMD) are used by some eye care practitioners to manage keratomycosis in Ghana. This study therefore aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of EPMD using in vitro and in vivo experimental models.
Methods
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EPMD was determined by the agar-well diffusion method. In vivo, the activity of EPMD on corneal ulcer, neovascularization, clouding, edema, carring and on keratomycotic conjunctivitis and corneal scarring (clinical features) associated with Candida albicans-induced keratomycosis in rabbits was determined by treating them with 0.034–1.08% (weight-in-volume) EPMD for a period of 30 days. The safety of EPMD on the healthy eye was determined by instilling various concentrations into the intact eye of the rabbits.
Results
The MIC of EPMD on Candida albicans was 1.08% (zone of inhibition of 13 mm ± 0.578), which resulted in significantly better improvements (p ≤ 0.001) in clinical findings than eyes treated with sterile water (p > 0.05), and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to eyes treated with 0.3% fluconazole. There were no visible signs of ocular toxicity on instilling it into healthy eyes of rabbits.
Conclusion
The extemporaneously prepared miconazole eye drops are effective and safe to use in keratomycosis.