Abstract: The hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and similar optical and rheological properties to the vitreous body. It can be easily injected into the vitreous cavity and has the characteristics of sustained drug release. It can be used as a carrier for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug delivery system for the treatment of various retinal and choroidal diseases. In recent years, many types of hydrogel carriers have been successfully developed in animal models, including natural and synthetic hydrogels, some of which can sustainably release bevacizumab, conbercept and other anti-VEGF drugs in the eye. The release of anti-VEGF drugs from hydrogels generally goes through the initial release stage, diffusion release stage and degradation release stage. How to control the release rate in the hydrogel, increase the drug loading and prolong the degradation time of the hydrogel in the vitreous are urgent problems to be solved at the present stage. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2021, 45: 330-334)

Key words: hydrogel, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, drug delivery system