Extended release of ciprofloxacin from commercial silicone‐hydrogel and conventional hydrogel contact lenses containing vitamin E diffusion barriers

Vitamin E can be used as a diffusion barrier with commercially available silicone hydrogel lenses to provide sustained release of ciprofloxacin. The results suggest that vitamin E may form blockages in channels within a silicone hydrogel lens material, thereby forcing a longer path for drugs to diffuse into and out of the lens material. There is an optimal amount of vitamin E that needs to be loaded to extend the release duration, and this is lens material dependent.