Spectroscopic detection of a therapeutic drug in the mammalian eye

We have developed a novel and fast ocular spectrometer and demonstrated its ability to perform real time spectroscopic measurements in the mammalian eye. The instrument comprises a hand-held sensor head which, when placed on the cornea, effectively turns the anterior chamber into a cuvette. This sensor head is connected to the rest of the instrument via two optical fibers. Ex vivo and in vivo evaluation demonstrated the ability of the instrument to detect compounds via both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In vivo evaluation demonstrated the ability of the instrument to detect brimonidine in the cornea and aqueous humor of rabbit eyes.