<![CDATA[Conventional topical ophthalmic drug administration is limited by rapid precorneal clearance, ocular barriers, and low bioavailability. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on biodegradable polymers used in ophthalmic drug delivery, focusing on polymer types, delivery mechanisms, advanced dosage-form formulations, therapeutic applications, and barriers to clinical translation. A narrative review was conducted using the peer-reviewed literature cited herein, with an emphasis on recent studies on biodegradable polymers, ocular drug delivery, controlled release, mucoadhesion, ocular penetration, biocompatibility, and translational challenges. Evidence was organized using a structured extraction framework covering polymer types, formulation platforms, mechanisms, therapeutic targets, reported outcomes, and limitations. Natural polymers such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid provide mucoadhesion, ocular retention, and biocompatibility, whereas synthetic polyesters like PLGA offer reproducible physicochemical properties and tunable degradation rates. Stimuli-responsive systems, nanoparticles, micelles, in situ gelling hydrogels, ocular inserts, drug-eluting contact lenses, microneedles, and implantable systems can further enhance residence time, controlled release, penetration, and site-specific delivery. Despite significant preclinical progress, long-term ocular safety, manufacturing reproducibility, production scale-up, sterility, regulatory requirements, and clinical validation remain major hurdles. Existing evidence supports an integrated approach in which polymer chemistry, dosage form architecture, ocular residence time, safety, manufacturability, and therapeutic targeting are simultaneously optimized. Future development must prioritize standardized long-term biocompatibility assessment, reproducible manufacturing, clinically relevant pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters, and state-of-the-art manufacturing strategies to facilitate translation toward personalized ophthalmic therapies.]]>
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