An Insight into Ocular Insert

Ocular inserts are sterile preparations, with a thin, multilayered, drugimpregnated, solid or semisolid consistency devices placed into cul-de-sac or conjunctiva sac. They are usually made up of polymeric vehicle containing drug. Ocular drug delivery is one of the most fascinating and challenging tasks being faced by the Pharmaceutical researchers. One of the major barriers of ocular medication is to obtain and maintain a therapeutic level at the site of action for prolonged period of time. The therapeutic efficacy of an ocular drug can be greatly improved by prolonging its contact with the corneal surface. Newer ocular drug delivery systems are being explored to develop extended duration and controlled release strategy. Some of the newer, sensitive and successful Ocular delivery systems like inserts, biodegradable polymeric systems, and collagen shields are being developed in order to attain better ocular bioavailability and sustained action of ocular drugs. INTRODUCTION: Ocular drug delivery is one of the most fascinating and challenging tasks being faced by the Pharmaceutical researchers. One of the major barriers of ocular medication is to obtain and maintain a therapeutic level at the site of action for prolonged period of time. The challenges to the formulator are to circumvent the protective barriers of the eye without causing permanent tissue damage. The development of newer, more sensitive diagnostic techniques and therapeutics agents renders urgency to the development of maximum successful and advanced ocular drug delivery systems. The therapeutic efficacy of an ocular drug can be greatly improved by prolonging its contact with the corneal surface. For achieving this purpose, viscosity enhancing agents are added to eye drop preparations or the drug is formulated in a water insoluble ointment formulation to sustain the duration of intimate drugeye contact. Unfortunately, these dosage forms give only marginally maximum sustained drug-eye contact than eye drop solutions and do not yield a constant drug bioavailability . Repeated medications are still required throughout the day. These practical issues have stimulated the search for alternative methods for ocular drug delivery. Much of the work recently devoted to ocular inserts, which serves as the platform for the release of one or more active substances. To overcome the constraints placed by conventional ocular therapies like short residence time, pulsed dosing of drug, frequent instillation, large drainage factors. Newer ocular drug delivery systems are being explored to develop extended duration and controlled release strategy. Some of the newer, sensitive and successful Ocular delivery systems like inserts, biodegradable polymeric systems, and collagen shields are being developed in order to attain better ocular bioavailability and sustained action of ocular drugs .