Ocular inflammation is one of the most common symptom of eye disorders and diseases.
The therapeutic management of this inflammation must be rapid and effective in order to avoid
deleterious effects for the eye and the vision. Steroidal (SAID) and non‐steroidal (NSAID) antiinflammatory
drugs and immunosuppressive agents have been shown to be effective in treating
inflammation of the ocular surface of the eye by topical administration. However, it is well
established that the anatomical and physiological ocular barriers are limiting factors for drug
penetration. In addition, such drugs are generally characterized by a very low aqueous solubility,
resulting in low bioavailability as only 1% to 5% of the applied drug permeates the cornea. The
present review gives an updated insight on the conventional formulations used in the treatment of
ocular inflammation, i.e., ointments, eye drops, solutions, suspensions, gels, and emulsions, based
on the commercial products available on the US, European, and French markets. Additionally,
sophisticated formulations and innovative ocular drug delivery systems will be discussed.
Promising results are presented with micro‐ and nanoparticulated systems, or combined strategies
with polymers and colloidal systems, which offer a synergy in bioavailability and sustained release.
Finally, different tools allowing the physical characterization of all these delivery systems, as well
as in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo evaluations, will be considered with regards to the safety, the
tolerance, and the efficiency of the drug products.