Ocular Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly

Mehmet Orkun SEVİKa , Berna TERZİOĞLU BEBİTOĞLUb

aMarmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
aMarmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, İstanbul, Türkiye

ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization states that everyone who lives long enough will experience an eye condition requiring care at least once in their lifetime. The population’s mean age is rising daily with the improving health conditions and increasing life expectancy. Therefore, the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases leading to visual impairment and reduced quality of life is also growing. Ocular pharmacotherapies are considered safe because of their minimal adverse-effect profile. However, there may be severe adverse effects that should be known, especially in patients prone to co-morbidities and polypharmacy, such as geriatric patients. In this review, systemic and local adverse effects of ocular pharmacotherapies in glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, the most common causes of moderate and severe vision loss and blindness in the geriatric population, as well as dry eye disease, which is also frequently seen in the elderly and reduces the quality of life, will be discussed.
Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; eye diseases; geriatrics; glaucoma; macular degeneration age-related

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