Formulation and Evalution OF Certain Antifungal Drugs For Ophthalmic Application

Topical application of drugs to the eye is the most frequently employed route of administration for the treatment of various-’ eye infections. Among these infections are fungal infections which have been reported to be a major cause of visual loss. The incidence of fungal infections of the eye and the eliologic agents vary according to the geographic location and climate, .Fungal ocular infections often fail to respond to the antifimgal drugs currently available, where most antifimgal drugs are effective against superficial mycoses but are less successful in counteracting deep mycotic infiltrations. Except for natamycin, ophthalmic antifungal agents are not commercially available, so the physicians depend in the treatment of fungal Ocular infections on the preparation of topical antiftmgals from systemic anlifungals preparations. ,The imidazole derivatives have broad antifungal activity and also have some antibacterial effect, especially against gram-positive bacteria. Imidazoles exhibit low ocular toxicity and good intra-ocular penetration. In (his work two imidazole derivatives namely; clotrimazole and miconazole nitrate were chosen as antifungal drugs for consideration in the topical treatment of fungal ocular infections. For this purpose, clotrimazole and miconazole nitrate are subjected to a formulation and evaluation studies.