Formulations for eye treatments

Abstract

Formulations, are used for eye treatments, e.g., cross-linking treatments. For example, a therapeutic formulation includes a photosensitizer and delivery agent(s), wherein the delivery agent(s) include at least one of: anesthetic agent(s), analgesic agent(s), tonicity agent(s), or shear-thinning, or viscosity-increasing agent(s). In another example, a method includes applying preparatory formulation(s) to increase a permeability of a corneal epithelium, and applying therapeutic formulation(s) to the epithelium, where the preparatory formulation(s) include zinc metalloproteinase, copper metalloproteinase, papain, bromelain, actinidin, ficain, N-acetylcysteine, ambroxol, carbocisteine, and/or erdosteine. In yet another example, a method includes applying therapeutic formulation(s) to a corneal epithelium to deliver the therapeutic formulation(s) to a stroma, and applying enhancement formulation(s) to the epithelium in response to applying the therapeutic formulation(s), where: the enhancement formulation(s) remove the therapeutic formulation(s) from the epithelium; close tight junctions of the epithelium; promote oxidation for the therapeutic agent(s); and/or further deliver the therapeutic formulation(s) to the stroma.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic formulation for treating an eye, comprising:
 a photosensitizer; and   one or more delivery agents including at least one of: one or more anesthetic agents, one or more analgesic agents, one or more tonicity agents, or one or more shear-thinning, viscosity-increasing agents.   
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more anesthetic agents includes pilocarpine, proparacaine, tetracaine, or oxybuprocaine. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more analgesic agents includes at least one of menthol, benzyl alcohol, or phenylethyl alcohol. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tonicity agents include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG)- 8 , ethanol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, or triacetin 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shear-thinning, viscosity-increasing agents includes at least one of carbomer, polycarbophil, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, or sodium hyaluronate. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more delivery agents further include one or more ionic surfactants. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more ionic surfactants includes benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more delivery agents further include one or more non-ionic surfactants. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more non-ionic surfactants includes at least one of poloxamer 407, tetronic 1107, tetronic 1304, polysorbate 80, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-40 hydrogenated castor oil, lecithin, polysorbate 60, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-35 castor oil, tocophersolan (TPGS), nonoxynol-9, or tyloxapol. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more delivery agents further include one or more chelating agents. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more chelating agents includes at least one of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or citrate. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating an eye, comprising:
 applying one or more preparatory formulations to an epithelium of a cornea, the one or more preparatory formulations increasing a permeability of the epithelium of the cornea, the one or more preparatory formulations including at least one of: zinc metalloproteinase, copper metalloproteinase, papain, bromelain, actinidin, ficain, N-acetylcysteine, ambroxol, carbocisteine, or erdosteine; and   applying one or more therapeutic formulations to the epithelium in response to the increased permeability of the epithelium.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more preparatory formulations further include one or more anesthetic agents. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more anesthetic agents includes at least one of pilocarpine, proparacaine, tetracaine, or oxybuprocaine. 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating an eye, comprising:
 applying one or more therapeutic formulations to an epithelium of a cornea to deliver the one or more therapeutic formulations to a stroma of the cornea; and   applying one or more enhancement formulations to the epithelium in response to applying the one or more therapeutic formulations, the one or more enhancement formulations configured to at least one of:
 remove the one or more therapeutic formulations from the epithelium of the cornea without diluting the one or more therapeutic agents delivered to the stroma; 
 close tight junctions of the epithelium to control hydration of the cornea; 
 promote oxidation for the one or more therapeutic agents delivered to the stroma; or 
 further deliver the one or more therapeutic formulations from the epithelium to the stroma. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more enhancement formulations include at least one of one or more one or more divalent metal salts, one or more pro-oxidants, or one or more glycosaminoglycans. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying one or more post-treatment formulations in response to applying the one or more enhancement formulations. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more post-treatment formulations include at least one of one or more divalent metal salts, one or more viscosity agents, one or more glycosaminoglycans, or one or more antibiotics. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more therapeutic agents includes a photosensitizer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising photoactivating the photosensitizer by delivering a dose of illumination to the cornea.