Device and method for reducing the permeability of the cornea

The magnetic device for treating an eye according to claim 14, wherein said magnetic field is an alternating field and has a frequency of from 5 Hz to 500 Hz.

The magnetic device for treating an eye according to claim 14, wherein said magnetic field is generated in pulses having a length of from 1 to 10 second, and is applied to the eye repetitively.

The magnetic device for treating an eye according to claim 14, wherein two subsequent pulses are separated by a time interval of from 1 to 10 pulse lengths, and wherein the number of pulses is from 10 to 100.

The magnetic device for treating an eye according to claim 14, comprising a generator of a changing magnetic field, applied to said eye, having a strength of from 0.1 to 5 mT in the vicinity of said eye, and a frequency of from 5 Hz to 500 Hz, the field being generated in pulses having a length of from 1 to 10 second, whereas the total duration of the pulses, which is the product of the pulse length and the pulse number, is from 10 to 1000 seconds.

The method of claim 16, comprising creating changing magnetic field in the vicinity of the cornea of said eye, the field having a strength of from 0.1 to 5 mT, a frequency of from 5 Hz to 500 Hz, and pulse length of from 1 to 10 second, thereby reducing the corneal permeability.

The method according to claim 16, wherein the total duration of the pulses, which is the product of the pulse length and the pulse number, is from 10 to 1000 seconds.

The method according to claim 16, wherein the corneal permeability is reduced by the magnetic field, whereby protecting the eye against entrance of noxious agents or against loss of water.

The method of protecting an eye according to claim 16, comprising repetitively applying a magnetic field to the eye of a subject in need of the treatment, whereby reducing the corneal permeability.

The method according to claim 16, comprising treating or preventing conditions selected from the group consisting of keratitis sicca, eye dryness, corneal epithelial dysfunctions, corneal keratitis, reduced barrier function of the cornea associated with diabetes, conditions associated with increased corneal permeability due to ageing, minor lesions of the corneal surface, conditions associated with wearing contact lenses, reduced self-healing capabilities of the cornea, and penetration of harmful agents to the eye from the contaminated environment.

A magnetic device for treating an eye, comprising a generator of a changing magnetic field having a strength sufficient to reduce the corneal permeability as measured by the penetration of fluorescein from the cornea surface to the anterior chamber.

A method of treating an eye of a subject, comprising applying a changing magnetic field having a strength sufficient to reduce the corneal permeability as measured by the penetration of fluorescein from the cornea surface to the anterior chamber.