Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 23, Issue 4, 2017

Background: The preferred approach for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is frequent intravitreal injections of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. However, considering the limitations of current anti-VEGF approaches, including the need for frequent injections, inadequate response in some patients, and a relatively short duration of effect, several new therapeutic m Read More

Background: The global prevalence of AMD is projected to be 196 million by the year 2020. Despite substantial progress in the development of new therapies for wet AMD using inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the severe visual impairment associated with geographic atrophy in dry AMD remains untreatable. A number of therapeutic options for dry AMD are being developed and are in various stages of Read More

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual loss and is primarily treated with nutritional supplementation as well as with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for certain patients with neovascular disease. AMD is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. In addition, treatment outcomes from nutritional supplementation and anti-VEGF agents vary co Read More

Background: Acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of cataract surgery. Since there are relatively few randomized clinical trials comparing the timing and administration of prophylactic antibiotics, there are wide variations in prevention practices around the world. Methods: Literature review. Results: Antibiotics may be used before surgery, during surgery, or after surgery Read More

Risk reduction and the attainment of good outcomes in contemporary cataract surgery depend in part on patient compliance with a postoperative regimen of topical eye drops. Topical drops are expensive and challenging to instill properly for patients. The consequences of noncompliance or poor compliance can be significant for the patient (in the case of a complication) and for society (in the case of development of antibioti Read More

Background: Acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery remains a rare but important cause of visual loss. There is no global consensus regarding the optimal strategies for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis and practices vary substantially around the world, especially with respect to the use of intracameral antibiotics. The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons in a randomized clinical trial (200 Read More

Postoperative endophthalmitis is typically caused by patient’s conjunctival bacterial flora or contaminated solutions and instruments. Visual outcome is often poor in severe cases, and treatment is especially difficult when endophthalmitis is caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. Povidone-iodine is used worldwide due to its wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity, absence of resistant bacteria to povidone-iodine, and l Read More

Background: Toxic optic neuropathies (TONs) often present with a gradual and bilateral decrease in visual acuity, scotomas and optic disc pallor. Obtaining an accurate history is the critical first step in determining the etiology of TONs. Methods: This updated review contains a thorough analysis of the current PubMed-indexed literature on the most common agents responsible for TONs, including methanol, ethambutol, a Read More

Background: Glaucoma comprises a group of neurodegenerative diseases resulting in retinal ganglion cell death within the optic nerve head. It is projected to affect almost 80 million people worldwide by 2020. The condition’s asymptomatic nature translates to over half of glaucoma sufferers being unaware of their condition. By the time of diagnosis, irreversible blindness is likely to have occurred. Prime areas of glaucoma res Read More

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface that results in symptoms such as discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability, with potential damage to the ocular surface. The principal pathological mechanisms of DED are hyperosmolarity and inflammation. These mechanisms are deeply interrelated and lead to a self-perpetuating “vicious circle”. Methods: Read More

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a rare mitochondrial disease of complex I of the respiratory chain. Patients typically present with subacute vision loss in one eye followed by the loss of vision in the second eye approximately 4-8 weeks later, ultimately leading to blindness. Therapeutic interventions have so far failed to prevent this vision loss; however, there has been recent interest in new managements fo Read More

Background: Tobacco smoking has detrimental influence on human health and is one of the leading causes of preventable mortality worldwide, associated with lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease and cardiovascular disease. Aim: The analysis of the influence of tobacco smoking on pathology of the anterior segment of the eye in adults and children. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature performed throu Read More

Background: Tobacco smoking has detrimental influence on human health. Aim: The analysis of influence of tobacco smoking on retina diseases, uveitis, optic neuropathies, and thyroidassociated orbitopathy in adults and children. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature performed through MEDLINE and PubMed searches, covering the years 2000-2016. Results: In adults, tobacco smoking is a strong risk factor for ag Read More

Basal cell caricnoma (BCC), the most common periocular magliancy, is treated with complete surgical excision. However, in patients not amenable to surgery or when surgical resection means loss of vital organs or disfiguring procedures due to locally advanced or metastatic disease, targeting the hedgehog pathway offers a novel treatment approach for such patients. Mutation in PTCH1 and SMO has been identified in patients Read More

Background: The cornea is transparent tissue that serves as the window of the eye, allowing light to enter from the outer environment. The corneal endothelium maintains corneal transparency; thus, its dysfunction results in corneal haziness and causes severe vision loss. The only available therapeutic choice for treating corneal endothelial dysfunction has been transplantation using donor corneas; consequently, researcher Read More