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Ocular diseases like, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, along with infectious keratitis are major causes of vision impairment, affecting over 2.2 billion people globally. Many of these cases remain untreated or inadequately managed due to limitations in current therapeutic options, including low drug bioavailability, rapid clearance, and barriers within ocular tissues. Traditional treatments, like eye drops and oral medications, suffer from poor patient compliance and frequent dosing requirements. Micelle-based DDS have recently appeared as a promising solution for these challenges in ocular therapeutics. Micelles are nanosized colloidal carriers formed by amphiphilic molecules, capable of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs to enhance their penetration, retention, and sustained release in ocular tissues. Studies demonstrate that micellar formulations improve corneal permeability and extend therapeutic effects in preclinical models, offering significant potential for diseases requiring sustained drug levels. This review emphasizes the potential of micellar DDS to address critical limitations in current ocular treatments and to support the development of targeted, non-invasive therapies that could transform ocular care and enhance patient outcomes.

Keywords: Ocular drug delivery; Micelle-based delivery systems; Nanotechnology, Glaucoma; Age-related macular degeneration