Sheeza Basharatover 1 year ago

Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor

The first rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor was approved in 2017 as a promising new treatment option for glaucoma. But recent studies have shown that ROCK inhibitors may also offer an alternative to surgery for patients suffering from corneal disease. A clear cornea, the front part of the eye, is essential to good vision. The corneal is arranged in five basic layers, each with an important function in maintaining its clarity. When the cells in a layer called the endothelium rapidly degenerate, the cornea becomes cloudy, and vision is lost. The main treatment for this corneal decompensation is replacement of the abnormal corneal layers with normal donor tissue. ROCK inhibitors have been shown to treat corneal endothelial dysfunction because they inhibit cell death and increase the growth of corneal endothelial cells. Recent studies have shown that a ROCK inhibitor, administered as an eyedrop, can treat Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and endothelial damage after cataract surgery, although further research is necessary. ROCK inhibitors have been given in conjunction with the Descemet stripping only procedure. Patients treated this way recovered vision more quickly and had higher endothelial cell density at 3, 6 and 12 months. Common side effects of the medicine include redness, verticillate, and as pictured, honeycomb/macrocystic edema. However, all side effects should clear by stopping treatment.