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The nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac-sodium, in the galenic form of an eye drop solution (0.1%), has been tested in an open clinical trial in the following indications: episcleritis (30 patients), limbal corneal ulcer (9 patients), hay-fever conjunctivitis and/or conjunctivitis phlyctaenulosa (11 patients). The result of this clinical trial has shown that diclofenac-sodium eye drop solution fulfills all the requirements of a well-tolerated and effective NSAID. The application of diclofenac-sodium eye drop solution (3-5 times daily) resulted in a clear-cut reduction in the use of eye drops containing steroids and its prominent analgesic effect was impressive. Although a slight, transient burning sensation was noticed by a few patients shortly after instillation, no local or systemic adverse reactions were observed.

The response by 14 patients with open-angle glaucoma to treatment with carteolol 1% eye drops was investigated during a study lasting up to 15 months. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that carteolol had a highly significant IOP-lowering effect in all the patients studied. The mean decrease in IOP was as much as 41% of the initial value after the first day of treatment and after one week of treatment all the IOP values were close to 16-17 mm Hg. No long-term drift was noticed during the period of the study; no patient experienced any adverse reactions which could be related to the treatment with carteolol. This study therefore confirms the results of former investigations into the IOP-lowering effect of carteolol performed on Japanese subjects and classifies carteolol as a safe antiglaucoma agent which is also effective in Caucasian patients.

Topical administration of guanethidine leads to a "chemical postganglionic sympathectomy" that causes a hypersensitivity to epinephrine in the eye. Therefore, even low concentrations of epinephrine added to guanethidine lower intraocular pressure efficiently in cases of open-angle glaucoma. In order to test the feasibility of a therapy with both low dosages and minimal effective concentrations, at the same time avoiding the disadvantages of topical parasympathicomimetic treatment in normalizing intraocular pressure, a long-term study of ten patients presenting with confirmed open-angle glaucoma is being carried out. It has now been running for 15 months. A collyrium containing 1.0% guanethidine and 0.2% epinephrine is administered topically. The results and the statistical evaluation confirm a significant lowering of intraocular pressure without triggering any signs of tachyphylaxy during the whole duration of the trial. This represents a further alternative to nonmiotic treatment of open-angle glaucoma.