About this Research Topic
The research on ocular pharmacology has increased significantly, over the past decade. More recently, the discovery and approval of eye disease modifying treatments is considered an unbelievable scientific breakthrough. Anti-VEGF molecules, cell therapy and gene therapy for age-related retinal degeneration, autologous corneal cells replacement, and Leber’s congenital amaurosis to name a few as some impressive examples.
New drugs have been recently introduced for the treatment of glaucoma focusing on new pharmacological targets, such as Rho kinase inhibitors. For example, such novel treatments have been approved for optic neuromyelitis spectrum disorders. Regarding diseases of the front of the eye, advances have been reached with approval of recombinant Nerve Growth Factor (cenegermin) for treatment of neurotrophic keratitis. New discoveries and treatments recently introduced in ophthalmology should promote new efforts and encourage research in ocular pharmacology.
It is noteworthy that several medical unmet needs remain in the field of ocular diseases, particularly for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Early stages of DR or dry AMD need a cure and glaucoma deserves a new therapeutic approach in terms of retinal ganglion cells protection. Furthermore, current pharmacological treatments of glaucoma do not address one major issue underlying the pathology: neuroinflammation. When it comes to dry eye disorders, novel ophthalmic formulations and research findings focusing on immunomodulatory responses are welcomed to provide new insights on these conditions. Finally, one of the most challenging aspects in ocular pharmacology is related to ocular drug delivery. This Research Topic would like to address and discuss important medical unmet needs, and include a tangible contribution to handle sight threatening diseases that have a devastating impact not only for the patients but also for the healthcare system.
This Research Topic aims to translate new basic science into clinically breakthrough therapies to help patients faced with debilitating ocular diseases. The Topic welcomes submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Clinical trials, and Case Reports articles that cover the following topics, but not limited to:
• Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as potential pharmacological target of eye diseases (glaucoma, retinal diseases, ocular surface diseases).
• Investigation on novel pharmacological targets for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, glaucoma and dry eye.
• New ocular drug delivery systems.
New drugs have been recently introduced for the treatment of glaucoma focusing on new pharmacological targets, such as Rho kinase inhibitors. For example, such novel treatments have been approved for optic neuromyelitis spectrum disorders. Regarding diseases of the front of the eye, advances have been reached with approval of recombinant Nerve Growth Factor (cenegermin) for treatment of neurotrophic keratitis. New discoveries and treatments recently introduced in ophthalmology should promote new efforts and encourage research in ocular pharmacology.
It is noteworthy that several medical unmet needs remain in the field of ocular diseases, particularly for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Early stages of DR or dry AMD need a cure and glaucoma deserves a new therapeutic approach in terms of retinal ganglion cells protection. Furthermore, current pharmacological treatments of glaucoma do not address one major issue underlying the pathology: neuroinflammation. When it comes to dry eye disorders, novel ophthalmic formulations and research findings focusing on immunomodulatory responses are welcomed to provide new insights on these conditions. Finally, one of the most challenging aspects in ocular pharmacology is related to ocular drug delivery. This Research Topic would like to address and discuss important medical unmet needs, and include a tangible contribution to handle sight threatening diseases that have a devastating impact not only for the patients but also for the healthcare system.
This Research Topic aims to translate new basic science into clinically breakthrough therapies to help patients faced with debilitating ocular diseases. The Topic welcomes submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Clinical trials, and Case Reports articles that cover the following topics, but not limited to:
• Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as potential pharmacological target of eye diseases (glaucoma, retinal diseases, ocular surface diseases).
• Investigation on novel pharmacological targets for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, glaucoma and dry eye.
• New ocular drug delivery systems.
Keywords: Ocular pharmacology, retinal diseases, corneal diseases, pharmacological targets, ocular drug delivery systems, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
