Review of Recent Advances in the Use of Drug Delivery Systems in Ophthalmology

Abstract

Eye drops represent the traditional form of medication delivery for the eyes, constituting approximately 90% of the presently available ophthalmic formulations. While they are generally well-received by patients, a significant challenge associated with eye drops is the rapid loss of medication before it reaches the cornea. The creation of new systems and means of drug delivery is important for solving the main problems of medicine – improving the therapeutic efficiency, tolerability, and safety of medical therapy. In the treatment of numerous of eye diseases, the main problem is creating a constant and sufficient concentration of drugs in the lesion due to the peculiarities of the anatomical and physiological structure of the eyeball. New approaches to non-invasive drug delivery are being developed, such as eye implants, contact lenses, as well as drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, microneedles and liposomes. In situ gelation systems are also the subject of study and promising developments. Combining drugs within conventional delivery systems has the potential to pave the way for enhanced outcomes and improved therapeutic responses, particularly for systems that have previously shown limited effectiveness. This review discusses current understanding and recent discoveries attributed the utilisation of drug delivery systems in ophthalmology, including the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each class of delivery system.