Current trends and prospects of the local antihypertensive drugs development for the glaucoma treatment

Abstract

Glaucoma is one of the world’s primary causes of blindness. Russia is following the global increasing trends of glaucoma and its leading position among ophthalmic pathologies that cause irreversible loss of vision. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor of glaucoma, so treatment strategies specifically focus on reducing IOP by suppressing the production of intraocular fluid and boosting its outflow. The current review presents new medications aimed at glaucoma and high IOP control that have recently appeared at the international market as well as the drugs under the different stages of development, from experimental to clinical studies. These include both the developments of agents belonging to the existing classes and of entirely new drugs intended to control IOP. In an attempt to reduce the side effects of locally administered drugs and prolong their action, in parallel with the development of new drugs, there is also evidence of alternative methods of drug delivery: intraocular implants, injectable forms and obturators, combinations of polymers and colloidal systems.