The effect of topical glucose on vitreous glucose concentration

To determine whether a brief period of topical glucose application to the eye can transiently elevate the vitreous glucose concentration. This is a pilot study designed to provide motivation (or not) to proceed to further research. It would be inappropriate to proceed without a pilot study of this nature We aim to proceed to a human trial using topical glucose as a neurorecovery agent in glaucoma patients. However, before proceeding to this trial we need to establish that topical glucose can elevate the vitreous glucose concentration. This is a Phase I type study in the sense that glucose eye drops have not been previously used therapeutically and we are not assessing efficacy. But it differs from a classic Phase I study in the sense that we are not seeking to assess the dose at which the glucose becomes unacceptably toxic; however, we believe that a modified dose escalation strategy would provide the optimal safety and still provide the necessary vitreous concentration data for statistical analysis.