Compositions, methods and/or devices for prevention and/or treatment of dry eye disorders
The present disclosure relates to compositions, methods and devices for treating, reducing or preventing one or more eye disorders, particularly dry eye disorders, in a subject by administering an amount of one or more fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters therapeutically effective to inhibit lipase activity while permitting bacterial growth or without substantially altering the dynamic microbial community of the eye. Typically, the fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters are C 8 to C 16 fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters.
1. A composition for treating a dry eye disorder in a subject, comprising: an amount of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate therapeutically effective to inhibit lipase activity by about 35% to 75% in an eye of the subject without substantially altering the dynamic microbial community of the eye to which the composition has been administered;
wherein the amount of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate is in a concentration of between 2.5 μg/ml to 15 μg/ml in the composition.
2. A composition according to claim 1 further comprises a therapeutically effective amount of androgen or androgen analogue.
3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the androgen and/or androgen analogue is selected from one or more of the following: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androsterone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.
4. A composition according to claim 1 further comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-inflammatory agent.
5. A composition according to claim 4 wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is selected from one or more of the following: azithromycin, cyclosporine A, omega-3 fatty acids and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β).
6. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is suitable for topical administration to an eye.
7. A composition according to claim 6 , wherein the topical administration is in the form of an ointment, cream, eye drops or released from an ophthalmic device.
8. A composition according to claim 7 , wherein the ophthalmic device is a contact lens.
9. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the concentration of fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters is about 0.01 to 50 μg/ml in the eye drops.
10. The composition of claim 7 wherein the concentration of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate is between 2.5 μg/ml to 15 μg/ml in the composition associated with the contact lens.
11. The composition of claim 7 wherein the concentration of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate is about 0.00001% to 0.005% % by weight of the total volume of the eye drops.
12. A composition according to claim 7 , wherein the amount of the lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate included in the ointment or the cream is in a concentration of about 0.005% to 0.05% weight of the total weight of the ointment or the cream.
13. A composition according to claim 7 , wherein the amount of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate included in the eye drops is in a concentration of between 2.5 μg/ml to 15 μg/ml.
14. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an amount of lauric acid or a combination of lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate therapeutically effective to inhibit lipase activity in an eye of the subject while permitting bacterial growth.