Polymeric implants for intraocular administration of drugs in veterinary medicine – review of the literature and report of a case

Abstract

Diseases of the posterior segment of the eye are responsible for most cases of irreversible blindness, and until at the present moment, have limited therapeutic success due to the difficulty of penetration of drugs in this site. In veterinary medicine, chronic eye diseases are often frustrating to treat due to the frequency and route of administration, besides the high cost of the drugs involved. In order to obtain therapeutic levels of these drugs for prolonged periods and to promote reduction of unwanted side effects, some polymeric delivery systems designed for intraocular implantation are currently being investigated. They are prepared in the form of implants from polymers that can be classified in biodegradable or nonbiodegradable, and are aimed to revolutionize medical and veterinary ophthalmology, increasing patient comfort and effectiveness of drugs in the treatment of diseases, which are so far regarded as irreversible because of the difficulties therapies related to them.