Pathogenesis and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 6113

Editor

Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
Interests: ocular pharmacology; clinical trial; neuro-protection; rho-kinase inhibitor; glaucoma surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to present a Special Issue, entitled "Pathogenesis and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases", that delves into the latest research and advancements in understanding the mechanisms behind various eye diseases and the development of novel treatment strategies.

In this Special Issue, we are seeking contributions and sharing that encompass the latest discoveries in the realms of diagnostic and therapeutic advancements for eye diseases. Our aim is to engage in discussions on a range of topics, including but not limited to, diagnostic imaging, molecular-pathology, artificial intelligence-assisted, and groundbreaking treatment modalities within the domain of ophthalmology.

Dr. Da-Wen Lu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ophthalmology
  • AI
  • ocular
  • eye diseases
  • retina
  • cornea
  • glaucoma
  • neuro-ophthalmology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 962 KB  
Article
Rho-Kinase Inhibitor—A Molecule for Pharmacological Treatment of Decompensated Corneas: Case Series
by Nina Kobal Mikša and Spela Stunf Pukl
Biomedicines 2026, 14(5), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14051099 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Objective: Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors have recently emerged as promising agents for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction. Because corneal transparency critically depends on endothelial cell function, endothelial failure can lead to persistent visual impairment. However, clinical evidence regarding the use of [...] Read more.
Objective: Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors have recently emerged as promising agents for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction. Because corneal transparency critically depends on endothelial cell function, endothelial failure can lead to persistent visual impairment. However, clinical evidence regarding the use of topical ROCK inhibition in various etiologies of endothelial decompensation remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in central corneal thickness (CCT), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and treatment-related adverse events in eyes with corneal edema of different etiologies treated with fixed-combination drops of netarsudil 0.02%/latanoprost 0.005%, Roclanda®. Methods: In this prospective, uncontrolled, exploratory case series, we investigated the effects of topical ROCK inhibition on corneal endothelial cell function in 13 eyes of 11 patients with persistent, nonhealing corneal edema following intraocular procedures. Patients were treated with topical Roclanda® once daily for three months. Clinical evaluation included BCVA, CCT, and safety assessment. Changes in CCT and BCVA were assessed before therapy, and after 1 and 3 months of treatment. Results: Mean baseline CCT was 782.8 µm and decreased significantly by 71.0 µm at 1 month and by 120.2 µm at 3 months (p = 0.0074 and 0.0012, respectively). Complete resolution of corneal edema was achieved in 38% of eyes. Mean BCVA improved from 0.744 before treatment to 0.518 logMAR at 3 months (p = 0.0026), with 46.2% of eyes gaining two or more Snellen lines. The analysis including only one eye per patient showed similar results, with statistically significant reductions in CCT at both 1 and 3 months and a significant improvement in BCVA at 3 months after the exclusion of the second eye in bilaterally included patients. Treatment was well tolerated; with mild conjunctival hyperemia as the most common adverse effect, while reticular epithelial corneal edema occurred in one eye and resolved after the completion of the treatment. Conclusions: In this prospective, exploratory case series of patients with nonhealing corneal edema, 3 months of a fixed-dose netarsudil 0.02%/latanoprost 0.005% treatment resulted in significant reduction in CCT, as well as clinically important improvement in BCVA. These exploratory findings cannot explain the mechanism of action, but suggest a potential therapeutic role for ROCK inhibitors in eyes with nonhealing corneal edema and possibly residual endothelial reserve. Larger controlled studies are needed to confirm these observations and further define indications for treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenesis and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases)
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Review

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13 pages, 611 KB  
Review
Rho-Kinase Inhibitors: The Application and Limitation in Management of Glaucoma
by Yuan-Ping Chao, Ta-Hung Chiu and Da-Wen Lu
Biomedicines 2025, 13(8), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13081871 - 1 Aug 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4631
Abstract
Glaucoma is recognized as a progressive optic neuropathy and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. While intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered the only modifiable risk factor, current medical treatments are challenged by issues such as inadequate IOP control and ocular side effects. [...] Read more.
Glaucoma is recognized as a progressive optic neuropathy and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. While intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered the only modifiable risk factor, current medical treatments are challenged by issues such as inadequate IOP control and ocular side effects. Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors have been developed as a novel pharmacologic class targeting the trabecular meshwork to enhance conventional aqueous humor outflow. In this review, the pharmacokinetics and IOP-lowering efficacy of key ROCK inhibitors are summarized. Beyond IOP reduction, ROCK inhibitors exhibit neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and ocular perfusion-enhancing effects. Finally, we analyzed the limitations and future prospects of ROCK inhibitors in the management of glaucoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenesis and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases)
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