DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CORNEAL DELIVERY OF RIBOFLAVIN BY IONTOPHORESIS FOR THE TREATMENT OF KERATOCONUS

摘要

An ocular iontophoresis device for delivering any ionized drug solution, such as riboflavin solution, to the cornea comprises, in combination: a reservoir (8) containing a riboflavin solution which is suitable to be merely positioned on the eye; an active electrode (2) disposed in or on the reservoir (8); and a passive electrode suitable to be placed on the skin of the subject, elsewhere on the body, preferably in close vicinity of the eye, such as forehead, cheeks or neck; means (10) for irradiating the cornea surface with suitable light, such as UV light, for obtaining corneal' cross- linking after the delivering of drug or of Riboflavin; wherein said reservoir (8) and said active electrode (2) are transparent to UV light and/or visible light and/or IR light. Method for delivering any ionized drug solution, such as riboflavin solution, to the cornea for treatment of keratoconus or any other ectasic corneal disease, or for reinforcing corneal stromal structure by means of an ocular iontophoresis device according to preceding claims, providing the following steps : - positioning said iontophoretic device on the eye to be treated, the device comprising a reservoir containing the riboflavin solution; - driving the solution movement by a cathodic current applied for 0,5 to 5 min, at an intensity not higher than 2 mA; - irradiation, immediately after the end of the current application, of the cornea surface with an UV light for 5 to 30 min at a power of 3 to 30 mW/cm2; thereby obtaining the corneal cross-linking of the riboflavin.