Compositions and treatment for eye diseases and disorders

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions and methods for treating eye diseases and disorders. More specifically, the invention provides compositions comprising progesterone and methods of treating ocular surface diseases and disorders comprising applying such compositions topically.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for treating ocular surface diseases or disorders in a patient comprising topically administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of progesterone and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein the composition is applied to one or more regions of the face that are outside of the palpebral part of the eye. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the progesterone is natural progesterone. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the disease or disorder is dry eye syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the region outside of the palpebral part of the eye is the forehead. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the region outside of the palpebral part of the eye is the temple region. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the progesterone is administered as a composition comprising from about 0.05% to about 4.0% w/w progesterone. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 2.0% w/w progesterone. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the effective amount of progesterone is from about 0.05 mg to about 5.0 mg. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the effective amount of progesterone is from about 0.1 mg to about 3.25 mg. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the patient is a companion animal. 
     
     
         34 . A method for treating symptoms of dry eye syndrome in a patient comprising topically administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of progesterone and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein the composition is applied to one or more regions of the face that are outside of the palpebral part of the eye. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the progesterone is natural progesterone. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the region outside of the palpebral part of the eye is the forehead. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the region outside of the palpebral part of the eye is the temple region. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the progesterone is administered as a composition comprising from about 0.05% to about 4.0% w/w progesterone. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 2.0% w/w progesterone. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the effective amount of progesterone is from about 0.05 mg to about 5.0 mg. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the effective amount of progesterone is from about 0.1 mg to about 3.25 mg. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the patient is a human. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the patient is a companion animal. 
     
     
         44 . A pharmaceutical composition for topical administration comprising a therapeutically effective amount of progesterone and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein the composition is suitable for application to the regions of the face that are outside of the palpebral part of the eye of a patient.