Vol 39 No. 1 Original Article PDF

Follow-up Study on the Safety of Prophylactic Intracameral Administration of Moxifloxacin 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution in Cataract Surgery

Denise Ramona V. Carbonell, MD and Ramon Cesar G. Espiritu, MD

Objective:

To determine the safety of intracameral moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution in cataract surgery given at a dose of 500 mg/0.1 mL.

Methods:

Medical records of uncomplicated phacoemulsification performed between January 2009 and December 2010 were reviewed. Each eye received 0.1 mL intracameral moxifloxacin (0.5% ophthalmic solution containing 500 mg of moxifloxacin) prophylactically. Outcome measures included anterior chamber cells and flare (Hogan System), corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure.

Results:

353 eyes of 244 patients, mean age of 67.51 ± 9.22 years, were included into the study. All patients completed follow-up to 3 weeks, with 79 patients (103 eyes) followed up to 3 months. All eyes had 20/40 or better vision at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Trace to +2 anterior chamber cells and flares were observed in 96% of eyes on day 1 postsurgery. All had quiet anterior chambers at subsequent follow-up examinations. Intraocular pressures recorded postoperatively were not significantly different. Mean endothelial cell count (ECC) postoperatively were 2473.25 cells/mm2 at 3 weeks and 2468.42 cells/mm2 at 3 months and were not significantly different from baseline (2586.57 cells/mm2) (p = 0.07 and 0.12 respectively). The mean central corneal thickness postoperatively at 3 weeks (551.92 μm) and at 3 months (542.67 μm ) were not different from baseline (546.48 μm) (p = 0.47). Those with diabetes mellitus showed similar results.

Conclusion:

Intracameral moxifloxacin 0.5% appears to be safe for prophylactic use in cataract surgery. At a dose of 500 mg/0.1 mL, there was minimal anterior chamber reaction, and the corneal thickness and endothelial cell density were not significantly different from preoperative.

Keywords: Intracameral moxifloxacin, Phacoemulsification, Endophthalmitis prophylaxis, Endothelial cell count, Pachymetry