Implantable and Device-Based Nanomedicine Platforms in Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies: A Narrative Review Bridging Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering

Conventional treatment for neuro-ophthalmic disorders provides limited neuroprotection. This is due to the deficits for intraocular residence time, blood-ocular barriers, and neuroprotection. Contrasting compliance-dependent traditional approaches, recent advances have explored alternatives such as implantable and device-based nanomedicine platforms, to provide targeted, long-acting, and patient-friendly therapies. We searched for recent databases in “PubMed,” “Science Direct,” “Scopus,” “Medscape,” and ”Google Scholar” and evaluated recent developments in nano-enabled ocular implants and device-based nanomedicine platforms. This narrative review summarizes these developments of preclinical and translational studies to evaluate design innovation, assess biocompatibility. Recent investigations suggest that emerging implant and device technologies may provide sustained drug release, enhanced bioavailability, and a reduced intervention frequency. Significant results have been reported for glaucoma and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). This highlights a research gap in many other optic neuropathies (ischemic, toxic, infiltrative, infectious, compressive) as well as disorders for the neurological vision control. Advancements in pharmacology and biomedical engineering may help bridge the treatment gap in neuro-ophthalmology. This could facilitate more translational designs for the future. However, a major limitation is the absence of nano enabled implants and devices for many neuro-opthalamic disorders.