Safety and efficacy of cyclosporine in the treatment of chronic dry eye.

Dry-eye syndrome (DES) is a multifactorial disease affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Various factors, including age, hormonal status, genetics, sex, immune status, innervation status, nutrition, pathogens, and environmental stress, can alter the cellular and molecular structure or function of components of the ocular surface system. The resulting imbalance increases susceptibility to desiccation and epithelial damage, leading to a vicious circle in which inflammation amplifies and sustains further damage by chronic deregulation of the system.

Voclosporin as a treatment for noninfectious uveitis.

Voclosporin is a relatively new calcineurin inhibitor that has been used successfully in humans for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Available data indicate a good safety profile for this treatment and a significant increase in quality of life for psoriasis patients. More recently, voclosporin has been used to treat ophthalmic conditions such as uveitis.

Treatment of corneal defects with delayed re-epithelization with a medical device/drug delivery system for epidermal growth factor.

Background:   Human recombinant epidermal growth factor has been shown to be effective in corneal healing when applied topically. The purpose of this preliminary study was to observe whether re-epithelization occurred in patients with non-healing corneal defects treated with a bandage contact lenses impregnated with epidermal growth factor.

Design:   Prospective non-comparative interventional case series study.

Gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis: safety, efficacy and patient perspective.

Gatifloxacin is a fourth generation fluroquinolone antibiotic that has been prescribed for systemic use. However, the drug which was developed by Kyorin (Japan) was linked to toxic reactions and death and was banned in the United States and Canada for use as an oral dosage form. It continues to be used as a topical application for ophthalmic conditions as the systemic toxicity seen when taking the drug orally has not been observed with ophthalmic use.

Tafluprost for the reduction of interocular pressure in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Tafluprost is an FP receptor antagonist that has been shown in clinical studies in Europe and Japan to be extremely useful in treating elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma. The drug is well tolerated and appears to be at least equal in effectiveness and perhaps superior to other protanoids for routine use comparison to be superior to other treatments for the elevated IOP as the side effects and other related symptomology appear to be less, while maintaining a level of pressure control for prolonged periods.

Drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye through hydrogel contact lenses.

Purpose: Despite pharmacological advances, delivery of drugs to the posterior segment of the eye remains problematic. We investigated the ability of hydrogel contact lenses to deliver small-molecule steroids, as well as larger biological molecules to the posterior segment.

Methods: Release characteristics of steroid-instilled lenses were studied in vitro.

Contact lenses as a drug delivery device for epidermal growth factor in the treatment of ocular wounds.

Background: This work was conducted to investigate the uptake and release of epidermal growth factor (EGF) from hydrogel contact lenses and to determine whether the released protein would be therapeutically active in a rabbit corneal epithelial defect model of ocular trauma, prior to use in humans.

Methods: The uptake and release of EGF from hydrogel contact lens materials were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Contact lenses composed of vasurfilcon A or lotrafilcon A (containing silicone) were incubated in a source solution containing 0.

Making standard of caring part of the standard of care.

Effective risk management focuses on consistent patient communication to inform patients of the benefits of dental health and the breadth of alternative treatments. When education is effective, it helps patients develop new understandings of health and disease. New understandings make appropriate treatment choices possible, and those choices reduce the chances of legal action and contribute to the health of the patient as well as the health of the practice.

A medical device/drug delivery system for treatment of glaucoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake and release kinetics of two common glaucoma drugs delivered onto hydrogel contact lenses using analytical chemistry and to evaluate this device's ability to control intraocular pressure in a limited number of volunteers.

Methods: Contact lenses were incubated in a source solution containing timolol maleate or brimonidine tartrate to determine uptake kinetics. The lenses were then immersed in fresh saline to determine release kinetics.