Zeppieri Marco, Gagliano Caterina, Tognetto Daniele, Musa Mutali, Rossi Federico Bernardo, Greggio Angelo, Gualandi Giuliano, Galan Alessandro, Babighian Silvia
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
Pharmaceutics. 2025 Apr 28;17(5):580. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17050580.
Glaucoma, a primary cause of irreversible blindness, is most effectively managed by reducing intraocular pressure (IOP). Topical eye drops, which are conventional treatments, frequently encounter constraints regarding patient compliance, inconsistent dosage, and tolerability. Slow-release drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising innovation in response to these challenges. The objective of these systems is to enhance the efficacy of treatment and patient compliance by ensuring the consistent and sustained delivery of therapeutic agents over extended periods. Implantable devices, injectable formulations, and external applications are all categorized as slow-release therapies. By delivering medication directly to the target tissues in a controlled manner, these technologies have the potential to circumvent common issues associated with traditional regimens, such as forgotten doses or improper administration. These systems have been shown to obtain clinically meaningful reductions in IOP in studies, with some demonstrating efficacy that is comparable to that of established daily topical treatments. Despite their potential, slow-release therapies encounter obstacles that necessitate resolution. Potential complications during implantation or removal, long-term biocompatibility, and the cost of treatment are all areas of concern. Furthermore, further investigation is required to comprehensively assess their relative economic feasibility, patient acceptability, and long-term safety profiles in comparison to conventional treatments. This review summarizes the most recent findings in the scientific literature, underlining the role and possible limits of slow-release therapies in glaucoma with the aim of offering a comprehensive understanding of their potential clinical applications and challenges. This emphasizes the potential for these innovations to revolutionize care by addressing current knowledge gaps, while also emphasizing the areas in which further development and research are required.
青光眼是不可逆失明的主要原因，通过降低眼压（IOP）能最有效地控制病情。局部滴眼剂作为传统治疗方法，在患者依从性、剂量一致性和耐受性方面常常面临限制。缓释药物递送系统作为应对这些挑战的一项有前景的创新技术应运而生。这些系统的目标是通过确保治疗药物在较长时间内持续稳定递送，提高治疗效果和患者依从性。可植入装置、注射制剂和外用制剂都属于缓释疗法。通过以可控方式将药物直接递送至靶组织，这些技术有可能规避与传统治疗方案相关的常见问题，如漏服或用药不当。研究表明，这些系统能使眼压在临床上实现有意义的降低，有些系统显示出与既定的每日局部治疗相当的疗效。尽管具有潜力，但缓释疗法也面临一些需要解决的障碍。植入或取出过程中的潜在并发症、长期生物相容性以及治疗成本都是令人关注的领域。此外，与传统治疗相比，还需要进一步研究以全面评估其相对经济可行性、患者可接受性和长期安全性。本综述总结了科学文献中的最新发现，强调了缓释疗法在青光眼治疗中的作用和可能的局限性，旨在全面了解其潜在的临床应用和挑战。这突出了这些创新技术通过弥补当前知识空白来变革治疗的潜力，同时也强调了需要进一步开发和研究的领域。
