Evidence mapPaperPMID 41744977Full record

ReviewGels (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Hydrogels as Promising Carriers for Ophthalmic Disease Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.

Wenxiang Zhu, Mingfang Xia, Yahui He, Qiuling Huang, Zhimin Liao, Xiaobo Wang, Xiaoyu Zhou, Xuanchu Duan

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wenxiang ZhuAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.ORCID 0009-0001-2392-6661
Mingfang XiaAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3146-7562
Yahui HeCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
Qiuling HuangAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Zhimin LiaoAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Xiaobo WangAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Xiaoyu ZhouAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Xuanchu DuanAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.ORCID 0000-0002-3148-1703

Funding

the Changsha Municipal Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. kq2502222]the National key research and development program of China [2021YFA1101202 and 2021YFA1101200]the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 82471079]the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China [Grant No. 2024JJ9020]the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China [2024AAC03823]the Science and Technology Plan Project of Yinchuan City of China [Grant No. 2025RC21]the Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 82501363]
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ocular disorders such as keratitis, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and dry eye disease (DED) are highly prevalent worldwide and remain major causes of visual impairment and blindness. Conventional therapeutic approaches for ocular diseases, such as eye drops, surgery, and laser therapy, are frequently hampered by limited drug bioavailability, rapid clearance, and treatment-related complications, primarily due to the eye's unique anatomical and physiological barriers. Hydrogels, characterized by their three-dimensional network structure, high water content, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable physicochemical properties, have emerged as promising platforms for ophthalmic drug delivery. This review summarizes the classification, fabrication strategies, and essential properties of hydrogels, and highlights recent advances in their application to ocular diseases, including keratitis management, corneal wound repair, intraocular pressure regulation and neuroprotection in glaucoma, sustained drug delivery for AMD and DR, vitreous substitutes for retinal detachment, and therapies for DED. In particular, we highlight recent advances in stimuli-responsive hydrogels that enable spatiotemporally controlled drug release in response to ocular cues such as temperature, pH, redox state, and enzyme activity, thereby enhancing therapeutic precision and efficacy. Furthermore, this review critically evaluates translational aspects, including long-term ocular safety, clinical feasibility, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory challenges, which are often underrepresented in existing reviews. By integrating material science, ocular pathology, and translational considerations, this review aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the rational design of next-generation hydrogel systems and to facilitate their clinical translation in ophthalmic therapy.

Indexed as

corneal repairdrug deliverydry eye diseaseglaucomahydrogelophthalmic diseasesretinal disorders

Identifiers

PMID41744977
PMCPMC12939739

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.