Ophthalmic therapeutics intraocular

Mechanism of Action An ophthalmic agent that is a selective alphaj-adrenergic agonist. Therapeutic Effect Reduces intraocular pressure (lOP). 

Mecfianism of Action An ophthalmic agent that increases the outflow of aqueous humor. Therapeutic Effect Decreases intraocular pressure. 

Sustained delivery of ophthalmic medications is a novel approach in treating chronic intraocular infections in conditions where systemic administration is accompanied by undesirable side-effects and repeated intravitreal injections carry the risk of infection. The administration of medications by implants or depot devices is a very rapidly developing technology in ocular therapeutics. The various types of implant and mechanisms of drug release have been discussed in general in Chapter 4. 

The goal in medical treatment of ophthalmic disease is to achieve therapeutically effective levels of a particular drug or combination of drugs at the targeted anatomical site. While disease of the adnexa and ocular surfaces is readily treated by the topical application of pharmaceuticals, achieving effective intraocular levels of a particular drug can be problematic. 

Other biomedical applications of polymers include sustained and controlled drug delivery formulations for implantation, transdermal and trans-cornealuses, intrauterine devices, etc. (6, 7). Major developments have been reported recently on the use of biomaterials for skin replacement (8), reconstruction of vocal cords (9), ophthalmic applications such as therapeutic contact lenses, artificial corneas, intraocular lenses, and vitreous implants (10), craniofacial, maxillofacial, and related replacements in reconstructive surgery (I), and neurostimulating and other electrical-stimulating electrodes (I). Orthopedic applications include artificial tendons (II), prostheses, long bone repair, and articular cartilage replacement (I). Finally, dental materials and implants (12,13) are also often considered as biomaterials. 

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