Methylethylpyridinol in ophthalmology: Mechanisms of action and clinical results

Methylethylpyridinol is a frequently used drug in ophthalmology. Many years of experience of its use in clinical practice and a variety of pharmacological effects have caused its wide introduction in the treatment of a wide range of ophthalmopathologies, as well as in various fields of medicine. It is known that methylethylpyridinol has antioxidant activity, neuroprotective effect, ability to stabilize cell membranes and improve microcirculation. These properties open wide possibilities for its application in therapy of eye diseases, in which oxidative stress and deterioration of blood supply play a key role. The broad spectrum of action of methylethylpyridinol is useful in combination therapy with other drugs, which allows to achieve a synergistic and enhanced therapeutic effect. This, in turn, can be applied for treatment of various diseases, including ophthalmologic pathology of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye, as well as ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. A significant advantage of methylethylpyridinol is the presence of the form of eye drops, which has an equivalent effect in comparison with parabulbar administration of the drug. This determines the unique position of the drug in the form of eye drops in ophthalmopharmacotherapy, because to date, the pharmaceutical market has no alternative agents with such a wide range of pharmacological properties in a convenient and safe dosage form, targeting the structures of the eye. This review discusses the therapeutic properties of methylethylpyridinol and the results of preclinical and clinical studies of this drug, which is important for expanding the prospects of its clinical application and ensuring patient safety.