Abstract:

Delivering drugs to the ocular system has many approaches including topical, subconjunctival, intracameral, scleral, intravitreal, oral or intravenous administration. Intraocular lens (IOL) as an innovative drug reservoir has many advantages. Drug loading to IOL could work directly to the anterior chamber, providing higher intraocular drug concentration. It combines cataract surgery and postoperative treatments in a single procedure. Moreover IOL remains immobilized within the capsular bag or ciliary sulcus as a fixed drug releaser meanwhile. Nowadays several approaches undergone study to endow IOL with the ability of carrying different drugs are listed as followings: soaking, attaching a polymeric drug reservoir, plasma grafting, chemical grafting, layer\|by\|layer self\|assembly deposition, coating, supercritical fluids impregnation and so on. IOL drug delivery systems are mainly designed to treat against the complications of cataract surgery such as endophthalmitis, inflammation reaction and posterior capsular opacification.   (Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2015,  39:303-308)