The main goal of the course is to provide the knowledge aimed at training a professional figure able to understand the general concepts of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and to evaluate the effects of the main drugs used in ocular therapy. In particular, this teaching will help to improve the knowledge and understanding of: i) the fate of substances administered to a living organism (adsorption, distribution, biotransformationand excretion); ii) the properties of the different routes of administration (in particular ocular routes); iii) factors that affect the bioavailability of ocular drugs; iv) the different formulations; v) the mechanism of drug action; vi) therapeutic effects and unwanted side effects of some important drugs used in ocular therapy. The most important ocular therapeutic agents will be evaluated.
At the end of the course, the student, within their sphere of competence, will have the ability to apply the following acquired knowledge:
- assessment of pharmacokinetic factors determining drug effects, drug mechanisms and toxicity to better clarify the pharmacological effect of the drugs;
- evaluation of the basis of the drug effects (therapeutics and side effects) used in ocular therapy.
Thus, the student will improve his ability to communicate and interact with other professional figures (medical doctor, nurse ...) and to be full participants in the interdisciplinary model of eye care, improving the quality of patient care.