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The proceedings of this symposium on Medical Therapy in Glaucoma are divided in four major parts. The pharmacological introduction gives the reader a short description of factors that are involved between administration of the drug and its action at the desired position in the eye. The new and exciting field of drug delivery systems will be dealt with in this part and part II. Originally we had asked Ken Richardson to give part of the lectures on Membrane technology and basic aspects of cholinergic action. Unfortu nately at the last moment he could not come. Our thanks go to Gavin Paterson and Klaus Heilmann who were willing to take over a part of his job. Part II on cholinergic action offers next to the well-known drugs infor mation about Ocusert. Part III covers the new developments in the adrenergic field, including guanethidine and atenolol. The clinical aspects of medical therapy in glaucoma are covered by Part IV. Many subjects could not be handled. We left out the systemic treatment of glaucoma (diamox, mannitol etc.). We left out all special cases and prob lem cases. Some questions could be answered during the round table discus sion, most remained unanswered. It is clear that there is enough subject-mat ter and interest for another symposium on therapy of glaucoma.
List of contents
I. Pharmacological Introduction.- Factors influencing the concentrations of a drug at its site of action in the eye.- Membrane technology; Principles and therapeutic possibilities of controlled delivery of drugs.- II. Cholinergic action.- The actions and uses of parasympathomimetic drugs in glaucoma.- Cholinergic drugs: Direct parasympathomimetic drugs.- Indirect parasympathomimetic drugs.- Experiences with Ocusert.- Long-term use of Ocusert.- III. Adrenergic action.- Adrenergic influences on aqueous humours dynamics.- Adrenergic and related drugs.- Ocular hypotensive effect of atenolol 4% eye drops in glaucoma.- Use of Oxprenolol eye drops in glaucoma patients.- IV. Clinical aspects.- Criteria for the initiation of treatment in patients with suspected glaucoma.- Some aspects of the management of glaucoma patients.- Medical versus surgical therapy in glaucoma patients.- Discussion.- Summary.
