Ophthalmic drug delivery

A method of treating glaucoma in an eye of a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

• (a) generating droplets via a piezoelectric actuated ejection device, wherein
• (i) the droplets:
• (ia) comprise a glaucoma medicament;
• (ib) have a total volume of less than 15 μl;
• (ic) have an average droplet size from 20 microns to 100 microns;
• and
• (id) have an average initial ejecting velocity from 1 m/s to about 10 m/s;
• and
• (ii) the piezoelectric actuated ejection device comprises a housing;
• a reservoir containing the ophthalmic composition disposed within the housing;
• and an ejector mechanism fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the ejector mechanism comprising an ejector plate comprising a plurality of openings formed through its thickness, and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency to generate the droplets from the composition upon actuation;
• and
• (b) delivering the droplets via the piezoelectric actuated ejection device to the surface of the eye of the subject, thereby treating glaucoma in the eye.

A method of hydrating an eye of a subject, reducing redness in an eye of a subject, or relieving itchiness in an eye of a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

• (a) generating droplets via a piezoelectric actuated ejection device, wherein
• (i) the droplets:
• (ia) comprise cyclosporine, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, tetrahydrozoline HCl, propylene glycol, zinc sulfate, dextran 70, polyethylene glycol, povidone, naphazoline HCl, pheniramine maleate, polyvinyl alcohol, ketotifen, oxymetazoline HCl, naphazoline HCl, polysorbate 80, phenylephrine HCl, glycerin, or a combination of two or more thereof;
• (ib) have a total volume of less than 15 μl;
• (ic) have an average droplet size from about 20 microns to about 100 microns;
• and
• (id) have an average initial ejecting velocity from 1 m/s to about 5/ms;
• and
• (ii) the piezoelectric actuated ejection device comprises a housing;
• a reservoir containing the ophthalmic composition disposed within the housing;
• and an ejector mechanism fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the ejector mechanism comprising an ejector plate comprising a plurality of openings formed through its thickness, and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency to generate the droplets from the composition upon actuation;
• and
• (b) delivering the droplets via the piezoelectric actuated ejection device to the surface of the eye of the subject, thereby hydrating the eye of the subject, reducing redness in the eye of the subject, or relieving itchiness in the eye of the subject

A method of treating an infection in an eye of a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:

• (a) generating droplets via a piezoelectric actuated ejection device, wherein
• (i) the droplets:
• (ia) comprise an antibiotic;
• (ib) have a total volume of less than 15 μl;
• (ic) have an average droplet size from 20 microns to 100 microns;
• and
• (id) have an average initial ejecting velocity from 1 m/s to about 10 m/s;
• and
• (ii) the piezoelectric actuated ejection device comprises a housing;
• a reservoir containing the ophthalmic composition disposed within the housing;
• and an ejector mechanism fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the ejector mechanism comprising an ejector plate comprising a plurality of openings formed through its thickness, and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency to generate the droplets from the composition upon actuation;
• and
• (b) delivering the droplets via the piezoelectric actuated ejection device to the surface of the eye of the subject, thereby treating the infection in the eye.