title: Seeing over the horizon - targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of ocular disease.
abstract: The observation that marijuana reduces intraocular pressure was made by Hepler and Frank in the 1970s. Since then, there has been a significant body of work investigating cannabinoids for their potential use as therapeutics. To date, no endocannabinoid system (ECS)-modulating drug has been approved for clinical use in the eye; however, recent advances in our understanding of the ECS, as well as new pharmacological tools, has renewed interest in the development of ocular ECS-based therapeutics. This review summarizes the current state-of-affairs for the use of ECS-modulating drugs for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular inflammatory and ischemic disease.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Toguri
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Szczesniak
authors.forename: Melanie E M
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid