OCULAR INSERTS - A NOVEL APPROACH IN OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Among the ocular dosage forms, the physiological and anatomical constraints put forth by the eye is a significant challenge to the pharmaceutical scientists and researchers to target drugs to the posterior segment of the eye, prolong their contact time with the ocular surface and sustained release. Hence novel drug delivery strategies and formulations are to be developed and explored which will overcome the ocular constraints and provide better patient compliance. At present, various novel and controlled drug delivery systems are being developed in order to attain better ocular bioavailability, sustained action of ocular drugs as well as good patient compliance. Ocular insert is an example of such delivery system. These are sterile preparations, with a thin, multilayered, drug-impregnated, solid or semisolid consistency devices placed into cul-de-sac or conjunctiva sac of the eye. Ocular inserts are an alternative approach to overcome the problems associated with conventional ocular dosage forms like solutions, suspensions, ointments, etc. The article hereunder gives a detailed idea about the classification, mechanism of action, formulation, pros and cons; evaluation and future trends of ocular inserts.