Administration of avermectin/milbemycin compounds for the treatment of ophthalmic pathologies

Abstract

Administration of at least one compound of the family of the avermectins or of the family of the milbemycins, notably ivermectin, is useful for the treatment of ophthalmic pathologies, including ocular rosacea.

1 . A regime or regimen for the treatment of an ophthalmic pathology, comprising administering to an individual in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one compound selected from among the family of the avermectins and the family of the milbemycins, formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor. 
     
     
         2 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising the treatment of ocular rosacea. 
     
     
         3 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising the treatment of symptoms selected from among a feeling of burning or of smarting of the eye, a feeling of a foreign body in the eye, a feeling of dryness of the eye, an increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, telangiectasia of the eyelid margin, meibomitis, blepharitis, chalazia, conjunctival hyperaemia and papillary conjunctivitis. 
     
     
         4 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 3 , comprising the treatment of blepharitis or conjunctivitis. 
     
     
         5 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising administering at least one compound of the family of the avermectins selected from among ivermectin, invermectin, avermectin, abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin and selamectin. 
     
     
         6 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising administering at least one compound of the family of the milbemycins selected from among lepimectin, milbemectin, milbemycin oxime and moxidectin, nemadectin. 
     
     
         7 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 5 , comprising the administration of ivermectin. 
     
     
         8 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising topically administering said at least one compound 
     
     
         9 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising orally administering said at least one compound. 
     
     
         10 . The regime or regimen as defined by  claim 1 , comprising the treatment of an ocular pathology caused by  Demodex folliculorum.    
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of an ocular pathology, comprising a thus effective amount of at least one compound selected from among the family of the avermectins and the family of the milbemycins, formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor. 
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of an ocular pathology, consisting essentially of a thus effective amount of at least one compound selected from among the family of the avermectins and the family of the milbemycins, formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition as defined by  claim 11 , formulated as an eyewash. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition as defined by  claim 11 , formulated as a gel, a lotion, a salve, an ointment, a solution or a powder. 
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition as defined by  claim 11 , comprising from 0.001% to 10% by weight of ivermectin with respect to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         16 . A regime or regimen for the treatment of an ophthalmic pathology, consisting essentially of administering to an individual in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one compound selected from among the family of the avermectins and the family of the milbemycins, formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor. 
     
     
         17 . A regime or regimen for the treatment of an ophthalmic pathology, comprising solely administering to an individual in need of such treatment, a thus effective amount of at least one compound selected from among the family of the avermectins and the family of the milbemycins, formulated into a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor.