Next-Generation Therapeutic Contact Lenses: Materials, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications

Therapeutic contact lenses (TCLs) have emerged as important tools in modern ophthalmology, providing visual rehabilitation and therapeutic benefits for a range of ocular surface disorders. Their ability to promote corneal healing, deliver drugs, and provide mechanical protection makes them useful in both acute and chronic eye conditions. This review provides an overview of TCLs, including their classification, mechanisms of action, clinical applications, recent technological advances, and limitations. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles published between 2000 and 2024, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria focused on therapeutic applications of contact lenses. TCLs are used for diverse indications, including corneal injuries, postsurgical healing, dry eye disease, neurotrophic keratitis, and targeted ocular drug delivery. Innovations such as smart lenses, nanotechnology-based systems, and biosensor integration are expanding their potential. However, infection risk, material biocompatibility, regulatory challenges, cost, and patient compliance remain important concerns. TCLs represent a rapidly evolving field with significant clinical relevance, and ongoing research into advanced materials, controlled drug-release systems, and patient-specific customisation will shape the next generation of therapeutic lenses.