Ocular Systems Flashcards
Name the 9 eye diseases?
Allergies Blepharitis Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Uveitis Conjunctivitis (pink eye) Dry eyes Cataract Diabetic eye disease Glaucoma
Describe uveitis.
Inflammation of middle layer of the eye causing pain and changes to vision. May cause glaucoma and cataracts.
Infoooo
Cornea is made of 3 distinct layers so the drug must possess certain physicochemical properties so that the drug can permeate across membranes into the aqueous humour.
What two layers must the periocular injection pass to reach retina layer?
Sclera - white portion of eye
Choroid - where blood flow occurs - supplies nutrients
What is intravitreal injection?
Injection straight into eyeball.
What are 5 physiological barriers of the eye?
Tear production/blinking Cornea Sclera Protein binding Drug metabolism
What is the action of mydriatics and cycloplegics? Name two drugs and the dosage forms available.
Dilation of pupils for the examination of fundus of the eye.
Tropicamide and Cyclopentolate.
Eye drops, eye ointment.
What is the action of beta blockers for the eye? Name two drugs and the dosage forms available.
Reduce aqueous humour production to lower intraocular pressure in treatment of glaucoma and for ocular hypertension.
Timolol and Betaxolol.
Eye drops, suspension, gel-forming solution.
How are drugs transported across the cornea for topically applied drugs?
- Passive diffusion along concentration gradient, paracellularly or transcellularly across the cornea.
- Carrier-mediated active transport.
What is the Log P value of an effective drug?
Log P = 2-3
Better efficacy, therapeutic effects and so less frequency of dose required.
What does the fraction of unionised drug vs ionised drug depend on?
pKa of the drug
pH of eyedrops and lachrymal fluid
(lachrymal fluid dilutes drug)
Corneal charge and drugs.
Corneal epithelium is NEGATIVELY CHARGED - hence charged cationic drugs permeate more easily through cornea than anionic drugs.
What should the size of the molecules be to allow easier transport across the cornea?
500 daltons.
When physicochemical properties of the drug are not considered optimum to reach the site of action in the eye, what can be done?
Use a prodrug.
Prodrug enzymatically/ metabolically/ chemicals is converted to the parent drug which has therapeutic effects.
What are the 4 routes of administration of drug into the eyes?
- Systemic (parenteral)
- Oral tablets etc
- Periocular/intravitreal injection
- Topical - eyedrops
What are the issues in using systemic route for administration into the eye?
Only small amount of drug reaching site due to poor bioavailability and solubility.
Poor penetration of drug.
Dilution occurs hence large doses administered - cause toxic side effects.
What is an issue with periocular injections?
Needle phobia.
What are the two parts of eyes called?
Anterior - front
Posterior - back
What are the three layers that the cornea is made from? State whether they are hydrophobic/philic.
Epithelium - hydrophobic
Endothelium - hydrophobic
Stroma - hydrophilic
What causes loss of product when topical drugs are applied to eyes?
Eye drops removal rapid due to tears and blinking. Tear production occurs due to change of pH of eye caused by drug.
What is the action of miotics? Name two drugs and the dosage forms available.
Constriction of pupil for treatment of glaucoma.
Pilocarpine and Carbochol.
Eyedrops, viscous eyedrops, ocular insert, gel.
What is the action of local anaesthetics for the eye? Name two drugs and the dosage forms available.
Irreversibly blocks pain receptors. Used in tonometry and before minor surgery.
Oxybuprocaine and Amethocaine.
Eyedrop solution.
Some drugs are use for diagnostic purposes. Name the drug, its action and dosage form available.
Fluorescein sodium colours the eye to aid in locating areas of damage.
Eye drops.
What is tonometry?
Device placed on cornea of eye to measure pressure.
Sometimes artificial tear preparations are used for eye lubrication. Name the drug, its clinical use and dosage forms available.
Hypromellose polyacrylic acid to treat tear deficiency.
Eye drops, viscous eye drops, gel.
What are 4 physicochemical properties that affect the rate and route of permeation into the cornea?
Solubility - hydrophilicity/lipophilicity.
Molecular size and shape.
Charge.
Degree of Ionisation.
Describe paracellular and transcellular passive diffusion.
Paracellular diffusion is between cells (through intercellular spaces) - for hydrophilic drugs.
Transcellular diffusion is through the cells - for hydrophobic drugs.
Drugs with both properties - permeate efficiently.
Define bioavailability.
Bioavailability is the rate and fraction of drug administered which successfully reaches site of action.
What is a prodrug as eye medication?
Drug administered into the eye - crosses the barrier and converts to its active form via enzymatic breakdown of the molecule.
What is the benefit of using prodrug for eye?
Increases BIOAVAILABILITY, POTENCY, SOLUBILITY and STABILITY with decreased side effects.
(enhance drug levels in eye - better therapeutic outcome).
List the 5 formulations/preparations available for treatment of eyes.
Solutions Suspensions Ointments Water-Based Gels Ocular Insert
What are the 4 advantages of using solution preparations?
- Solutions mainly have water soluble compounds.
- High solution concentration can be achieved due to high solubility.
- Easy to manufacture.
- Better dose uniformity and ocular bioavailability.