Method of treatment of eyelid laxity

Abstract

A method of treating eyelid laxity in a subject comprising exposing a tarsal plate of an eye, and applying to at least part of the exposed tarsal plate a photosensitizer that initiates crosslinking in response to photo-activating radiation; and irradiating the exposed tarsal plate with photo-activating radiation to initiate crosslinking in the tarsal plate tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating eyelid laxity in a subject comprising:
 exposing a tarsal plate of an eye;   applying to at least part of the exposed tarsal plate a photosensitizer that initiates crosslinking in response to photo-activating radiation; and   irradiating the exposed tarsal plate with photo-activating radiation to initiate crosslinking in the tarsal plate tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the photosensitizer is in solubilized form. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the photosensitizer is riboflavin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, derivative or solvate thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the photosensitizer is riboflavin 5′-phosphate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the photo-activating radiation is UV-A radiation. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method comprises:
 exposing a tarsal plate of an eye by making an incision; 
 applying to at least part of the exposed tarsal plate riboflavin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, derivative or solvate thereof in solubilized form; 
 irradiating the exposed tarsal plate with UV-A radiation to initiate crosslinking in the tarsal plate tissue; and 
 closing the incision. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further includes delivery of O 2  gas at a site of irradiation. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  performed either simultaneously or sequentially in combination with an additional tightening procedure. 
     
     
         9 . A system configured to crosslink tarsal plate tissue comprising:
 an applicator configured to apply a photosensitizer solution to an exposed tarsal plate of an eye; and   a radiation source configured to provide photo-activating radiation to the tarsal plate wherein the radiation source provides a beam profile of greater than 12 mm at 10 mm from a surface of the tarsal plate.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a means for delivering O 2  to the tarsal plate. 
     
     
         11 . A method of crosslinking tarsal plate tissue comprising topical application to the tarsal plate of a photosensitizer that initiates crosslinking in response to photo-activating radiation and, simultaneously or subsequently, treating the tarsal plate with photo-activating radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the photosensitizer is a pharmaceutical composition comprising riboflavin or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, salt or solvate thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises an aqueous solution of riboflavin 5′-phosphate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the radiation is UV-A radiation. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for performing the method of  claim 1  comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising a photosensitizer that initiates crosslinking in response to photo-activating radiation together with an applicator adapted to apply the photosensitizer to a tarsal plate. 
     
     
         16 . A kit according to  claim 15  wherein the photosensitizer is riboflavin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, derivative or solvate thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A kit according to  claim 16  wherein the riboflavin pharmaceutical composition is an aqueous solution.