Formulation and in vivo evaluation of ocular insert containing phenylephrine and tropicamide

A Gelfoam® based ocular device containing 1.7 mg of phenylephrine and 0.6 mg of tropicamide was formulated and evaluated for pupillary dilation in rabbits. The manufacturing procedure is fairly simple and the required excipients are inexpensive. The in vivo results show that the mydriatic response produced by the proposed device is larger and longer lasting than that produced by eyedrops with an equivalent amount of phenylephrine and tropicamide. The results reported in this study, along with those of previous studies, imply that Gelfoam® is a versatile drug carrier for either local or systemic drug delivery via the ophthalmic route.