Animal study: Besifloxacin does not alter corneal reepithelialization

This study investigated the effect of besifloxacin 0.6% on corneal reepithelialization in a rabbit model. Besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6% (Besivance) is a fluoroquinolone that was approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.

Three other topical ophthalmic fluoroquinolones-levofloxacin ophthalmic solution 1.5% (Iquix), moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Vigamox) and gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% (Zymar)-were tested in parallel with besifloxacin. Dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.1% (Maxidex) was used to validate the model and serve as a positive control. Full-thickness corneal epithelial defects 9.5 mm in diameter were created in the right eye of 10 rabbits. A drop of saline, besifloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin or dexamethasone was applied to the eye at varying time points up to 72 hours after surgery.

By 72 hours, most wounds in the saline and fluoroquinolone groups were completely reepithelialized by clinical observation based on the lack of fluorescein staining. No significant effects on corneal reepithelialization were observed with besifloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin or levofloxacin compared with those in the saline group at any time point.

The data demonstrate that in contrast to dexamethasone, which impedes corneal reepithelialization, besifloxacin, as well as the other fluoroquinolones, did not alter the corneal reepithelialization time course in the rabbit. No statistically significant differences in corneal reepithelialization were seen between the fluoroquinolones. This is happy news for our patients since there was some question early on during the introduction of the latest fluoroquinolones about their relative corneal and wound repair toxicity.

No abstract is available for this article.