Human vision can be impacted by many conditions that affect the function of the eye, necessitating various ophthalmic interventions from use of spectacles or contact lenses to surgery. Recently, hydrogels have found wide applications in ophthalmic procedures due to their high-water absorbance and tuneable properties. A range of hydrogels have been approved by the FDA for ophthalmic use, with contact lenses being the predominant modality. This review focusses on advances in hydrogel-based ophthalmic innovations and discusses emerging and developing ophthalmic hydrogel materials and functionalities that are anticipated to revolutionise ophthalmic treatment technologies. It further highlights ongoing efforts in surface modification strategies aimed at enhancing key surface properties, including wettability, cell adhesion, drug delivery capability, and antimicrobial function. The overall aim is to provide an outlook of current progress and drive conversations for new and developing ophthalmic hydrogel materials and enhancement approaches. • Soft contact lenses represent the most prevalent hydrogel application in ophthalmology. • Emerging technologies, including 3D printing and nanotechnology, enable more precise and controlled hydrogel design. • Wet chemical grafting and plasma-based techniques are commonly used surface modification methods in marketed ophthalmic hydrogels. • Surface modification regulates wettability, cell adhesion, drug release, and antimicrobial performance of ophthalmic hydrogels.
Fang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.