AIM: To study the effect of synthetic borneol on transcorneal permeability of dexamethasone. The ocular irritation was also evaluated.

METHODS: The freshly excised corneas,whole corneas or de-epithelialized corneas, were immediately mounted in perfusion cells. Dexamethasone containing free-borneol or borneol was added into the deliver chamber respectively in each group. At different time point after addition of solution, 50μL of the receptor solution was removed. The concentration of dexamethasone was determined and the apparent permeability coefficient(Papp)was calculated. Hydration level of cornea was measured and irritation test was observed.

RESULTS: The Papp for dexamethasone in whole cornea increased by 2.40 fold in borneol group(P<0.05). The Papp for dexamethasone in de-epithelialized cornea did not increased apparently(P>0.05). Synthetic borneol did not increase hydration level and irritation of cornea(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Synthetic borneol can improve the corneal permeation of lipophilic drug dexamethasone and do not damage corneal tissue.