Chloramphenicol in aqueous humor after topical application.

Chloramphenicol 0.5% ophthalmic solution was applied topically to patients at various times before cataract surgery. The aqueous humor was obtained at the time of surgery and analyzed for chloramphenicol content by thin-layer chromatography. Aqueous humor chloramphenicol levels ranged from 3.5mn-g/ml to 6.7mn-g/ml at the initial sampling period one to two hours following topical administration. Chloramphenicol was measurable in samples for up to five hours following administration. The compound measured in the aqueous humor samples was chemically identified as intact chloramphenicol, and no metabolites of chloramphenicol were shown.