REVIEW ARTICLE ON OCULAR INSERTS FOR GLAUCOMA

Abstract

The eye is a sensitive organ, and the administration of drugs into the ocular cavity is a tedious task. A neurological condition linked to intraocular pressure in the eye is called glaucoma. It gradually damages the optic nerve, which results in visual loss and reduced contrast sensitivity. Ocular insert is the prominent technique to overcome problems associated with conventional dosage forms like repeated administration, drug drainage via lacrimal fluids drainage, formation of crystalline deposits on the cornea, pH instability, pulsed dosing of drugs, etc. Ocular inserts are sterile, thin, multi-layered delivery devices made of biodegradable drug material that are put into the lower eyelid to release medication over an extended period of time. This prolonged contact time with the eye may boost the medication's bioavailability. Ocular inserts increase patient convenience by avoiding the frequent delivery of lower dose dumping into the eye, whereas eye drops necessitate frequent drug administration and medication loss reduces bioavailability. To boost the bioavailability, it releases the drug into the eye through osmosis, diffusion, bioerosion, and continuous release. Based on their solubility profile, ocular inserts are divided into three categories: soluble, insoluble, and bioerodible. It is made using the glass substrate process, hot melt extrusion, gel foam disc, solvent casting, and mold preparation. The goal of this study is to provide a thorough analysis of ocular inserts as a cutting-edge glaucoma medication delivery system.