Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or TOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or TOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating eye disorders by administering a drug delivery system into an eye compartment of the patient, wherein the drug delivery system contains a particle containing a core; a coating associated with the particle, wherein the wherein the coating is covalently or non-covalently associated with the particle and presents a hydrophilic region to the environment around the particle; and a therapeutic agent are disclosed. The eye compartment can exhibit reduced inflammation or IOP after administration of the drug delivery systems to a patient than if a drug delivery system including an uncoated particle were administered to the patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determination of one or more substances within a material are described. A flow of fluorescence-exciting/ablative energy (e.g., laser pulse(s), preferably in the ultraviolet region (e.g. 193-nm)), is directed onto the material to ablate a thin layer of the material using photochemical decomposition. Simultaneously, the laser energy induces fluorescence of the substance(s) within the ablated layer of the material. The fluorescence emitted by the substance(s) is then received by a device, which measures the spectrum of the received fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra are then transmitted to a spectral processing device adapted to determine, on the basis of the fluorescence spectra, whether the substance(s) of interest is/are present in the material and/or the concentration at which the substance(s) of interest is/are present in the material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the quantitative and qualitative determination of one or more exogenous substances within a material are described. A flow of fluorescence-exciting/ablative energy (e.g., laser pulse(s), preferably in the ultraviolet region (e.g. 193-nm)), is directed onto the material to ablate a thin layer (e.g. ≈0.3-&mgr;m) of the material using photochemical decomposition. Simultaneously, the laser energy induces the fluorescence of the substance(s) of interest within the ablated layer of the material. The fluorescence emitted by the substance(s) of interest is then received by a device (e.g., a spectrometer), which measures the spectrum (i.e. intensity versus wavelength) of the received fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra are then transmitted to a spectral processing device (e.g.

Abstract: Noncontact apparatus and method for preforming laser thermal keratoplasty capable of scanning of treatment areas with shapes that reduce regression. The apparatus includes laser sources, a projection optical system, observation system, and control system The projection system uses two steering mirrors to control laser beam position on the cornea. This projection system enables precise control of the area of corneal heat shrinkage using relatively low-powered lasers, such as diode lasers. Desired changes in corneal refractive power are produced by selected patterns of photothermal shrinkage of corneal collagen tissue. The selected patterns are arrangements of oblong shapes that are preferably tapered at the ends of the long axis. The oblong shape and tapering distribute tension in the cornea over a wider area of collagen shrinkage and improve the stability of refractive correction.

Abstract: A method for modification of the corneal surface, in which a gel is applied to the cornea and molded in situ to create an ablation mask. This ablation mask has a posterior surface substantially identical to that of the surface to be treated. A shaping means (such as a contact lens) having a posterior curvature corresponding to the desired final profile of the cornea is superimposed on the gel prior to the setting of the gel; the anterior curvature of the ablation mask is equal to that of the posterior curvature of the shaping means. The gel has essentially the identical ablation properties of the cornea, which is generally not the case when other non-biological materials (such as plastics materials) are used. A preferred gel for use in forming the ablation mask is collagen gel.