New treatment for two eye diseases using microneedles

Friday, December 5 2014 | 00 h 00 min | Vision Science

Tiny needles that are difficult to see with the naked eye could help in the treatment of glaucoma and corneal neovascularization.

The microneedles, ranging in length from 400 to 700 microns, may become the new way to deliver drugs to specific areas within the eye instead of the entire eye. This could increase their effectiveness, limit side effects, and reduce the amount of drug needed.

For glaucoma patients, one injection made every three to six months would replace daily eye drops.

In the treatment of neovascularization, the needles would be used to inject a drug that stops vessel growth in the area treated.

For further information: http://www.iovs.org/content/55/11/7376

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141113105536.htm