THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS OF RETINOIDS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY

Vitamin A was used to treat night blindness by Egyptian physicians as early as 1500 BC. All compounds that exhibit pharmacological and physi ological properties of the basic vitamin A alcohol moiety are nowadays referred to as retinoids. Retinoids have been investigated fbr use in the treatment of various ocular diseases such as xerophthalmia, corne al wounds, dry-eye disorders and even proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In the beginning, retinoids were administered topically by mixing the m with oils or through ointments. However, more recently, the emphasis has been on developing systems for controlled release of retinoids, m ainly by using biopolymers. Topical application has a great advantage in that it will overcome some of the serious side effects of systemica lly or orally administered retinoids. Along with the development of co ntrolled release systems, new derivatives of currently available retin oids have been developed in order to achieve a better drug. This revie w summarizes various publications dealing with the local administratio n of retinoids either by topical route or by intravitreous route in an imals and humans to treat various ocular diseases. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.