| abstract |
This invention provides ocular formulations comprising an ocular drug and a carboxylic acid in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH of the formulation from about 4.5 to about 7.5. The ocular drug may be a dopamine antagonist and the acid may be lactic acid, citric acid or tartaric acid. In some aspects, the pH of the formulation is about 5.5. The ocular formulations of this invention provide enhanced bioavailability which results in increased drug concentrations across the cornea and in the eye ball, i.e., aqueous humor and intraocular organs and chambers. Moreover, the present formulations are non-irritating when applied topically and have a shelf-life of at least fourteen days at 25 °C. Methods are also provided to increase ocular blood flow by using present ocular formulations comprising dopamine antagonists or other drugs for the prevention and treatment of ocular hypertension, glaucoma, ischemic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). |