International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, 2011, 1, 4, 199.
DOI: 10.4103/2230-973X.93002
Published: February 2012
Type: Editorial
Authors:
Javed Ali
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
ABSTRACT
Topical eye drops are the most common dosage form for treating disorder related to the anterior segment of the eye. However, a large amount of drug delivered through the eye drops is lost through tear drainage and associated mechanisms that protect the eye against exposure to pernicious substances. An ideal drug delivery system for ocular drug delivery would be the one that increases the stay/contact time of the drug with the eye surface and would provide adequate concentration of drug at the site of action. Ocular drug delivery is associated with a number of challenges for formulation scientists.[1] The unique structure of the eye and the pharmacokinetically specific environment that exists in the eye is always a challenge for the pharmaceutical scientists. The challenges in ocular drug delivery include appropriate particle size, irritancy to eye, lachrymal drainage, reflex blinking, drug dilution by tears, rapid turnover, limited permeability of the cornea and rapid elimination of the drug through the lachrymal system. In addition manufacturing and packaging of ophthalmic products is done under sterile environment that requires specific facilities and need to be GMP compliant. Read more…