Effects of calcium chelating agents on corneal permeability.

Corneal penetration studies have been conducted in unanesthetized albino rabbits using various organic compounds representing both polar and nonpolar species. In the presence of calcium chelating agents, polar compounds generally demonstrate an increase in corneal penetration. Evidence that this corneal effect is reversible is presented. Concomitant with an increase in both corneal and aqueous humor drug levels was a decrease in drug concentration in both iris and conjunctival tissues tentatively attributed to chelation effects on vascular permeability of these tissues. EDTA, a known calcium chelator, was shown to penetrate the cornea, conjunctiva, and iris/ciliary body from a topically applied dose. The implications of this observation pertain to both toxicity effects, when EDTA is incorporated into ocular drug products for stability purposes, and novel strategems for improving ocular bioavailability of topically applied drugs.